A NEW craze which has swept the US and sees people dressing up as ‘killer clowns’ to terrorise communities has hit Winsford.

Several sightings have been reported in the town over the past week of people dressed up as scary clowns holding toy weapons.

Some of the reported incidents include the masked adults chasing children and also staring into homes, watching residents.

Winsford resident Michelle Powell said her 12-year-old son was chased by a grown man in a clown mask holding balloons after he jumped out of a dark alleyway.

Michelle said: “My son was coming home from the park after 8pm and this clown jumped out of the alleyway near the Grange School at him and chased him. He said he was quite tall – about six foot – so he was clearly an adult.

“He got home and he was petrified, he couldn’t breathe. He had to sleep in my bed. I told him that he’s not going on out for the next few nights but he said he didn’t want to anyway now.

“I went out and saw a policeman patrolling and told him about it and he said he was already looking for him because he’d been told he’d also chased a young girl.”

Michelle also said her mum had been given a fright by three clowns whilein her own home.

She added: “My mum was in her home in Kinglsey Walk making the bed and looked out the window and there were three of them stood there with plastic guns watching her.

“She went out and told them to move or she’d set the dogs on them but they just stayed there.”

Kirsty Janine Lymer also said on the Winsford Guardian Facebook page: “A kid on a bike with a clown mask on chased my car on the Grange and terrified my son.”

Cheshire Police has received more than 40 reports linked to the sinister craze.

Police confirmed that one incident has been reported in Winsford at Knights Grange on Sunday, October 9, but explained that other calls of mere sightings of the creepy clowns are not logged as reported crimes.

They also urged members of the public not to seek retribution.

Chief Insp Simon Meegan said: “We will say to anyone – do not get involved in any type of altercation or retribution and report any anti-social behaviour to us.”

“I would ask people to think before they indulge in this kind of anti-social behaviour and think of the impact it has on people.

“As with any anti-social behaviour it is something we will respond to and with deal with as appropriate.”

Supt Bill Dutton also urged members of the public to report any suspicious activity.

He said: “Intimidating behaviour is totally unacceptable and while we appreciate Halloween is just a short time away, scaring people – especially children and vulnerable people – in this way could constitute an offence.

“I urge anyone who sees suspicious activity, or has been intimidated or upset by this behaviour, should call Cheshire Police immediately on 101.”