TWO terrified girls fled from a so-called killer clown after being chased through Barrow's busiest shopping street.

They were targeted at the weekend as the craze sweeping the nation came to Cumbria.

Police have reported similar incidents in Kendal, Carlisloe, Workington.

They follow a Barrow mum's Facebook post in which she says a man dressed as a clown and brandishing a knife approached her and her daughter near to barrow's multi-storey carpark.

Superintendent Mark Pannone said: “Dressing up as a clown to scare people may seem like a joke, but it is no laughing matter.

"The fear of such incidents is deeply upsetting children in Cumbria and causing them a great deal of distress. It will not be tolerated by police.

“We’d like to remind those that are thinking of taking part in this nationwide craze, to first think of the consequences. Such behaviour could lead to an arrest for a public order offence, possession of an offensive weapon or an assault.”

Barrow mum Terri Wilson posted the warning on Facebook on Sunday, after she and her child Brodi saw a killer clown.

The mum's post, which has been shared more than 140 times, said: "Be careful if you're in town some lad is wearing a clown mask and has a knife. He walked out the multi storey and looked at me and Brodi holding the knife then walked back in. The police have been called just everyone be wary."

The "clown craze", also known as "killer clown", appears to have been inspired by clown-related pranks in the US and has seen a string of copycat incidents across the country.

People on social media have reported clown sightings in Cheshire, North Wales, Dundee, Norwich, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield.

The following incidents were reported in Cumbria:

Barrow : A male dressed as a clown brandishing a knife on Portland Walk.

Two teenage girls chased by a teenage male dressed as a clown on Portland Walk.

Kendal: Children being scared by someone dressed as a clown at the park on Acre Moss Lane.

Workington: An individual in a clown mask, brandishing a stick, approached a small child outside the sports centre on Cloffocks before making off on foot

Carlisle: A male with face painted like a clown jumped out of bush on Newtown Road and chased another male along the river path.

A male was chased around Hammonds Park by someone dressed as a clown.

Third party report of a female dog walker being scared by someone dressed as a clown on Blackwell Road