The "killer clown" craze hit Millom tonight.

There have been reports of someone trying to scare people in a clown mask and also jumping out in front of cars.

Copeland Police tweeted this evening "Male interviewed in #millom tonight for public order after wearing mask to scare people. #clowncrackdown".

Cumbria Police said yesterday that it is investigating around 40 incidents from the last few days.

Police chiefs in the county have vowed to crack down on the bizarre new fad, in which victims – including small children – are chased or ambushed by strangers dressed in scary clown outfits and in some cases armed with sticks or fake knives.

There have now been so many frightening incidents involving clowns that the horror novelist Stephen King – whose evil clown Pennywise featured in his book It – has appealed for those involved to back off.