Clowns carrying knives, baseball bats and other weapons are reportedly creeping through Californian neighbourhoods, leaving locals a little white in the face.

The phenomenon started with the so-called ‘Wasco Clown’ who worked hard to freak out the residents of Wasco, California and gained himself (or herself?) 40,000 Instagram followers in the process. Since then, there have been in the region of 20 police reports in Wasco and the neighbouring towns of Bakersfield and Delano of copycat clowns.

While the original clown approached things in a frightening but essentially non-violent approach – dressing up and taking spooky shots at local landmarks – the copycats have stepped things up a level and reports indicate that some clowns have even been spotted carrying guns and knives.

Speaking to local television, Sgt Joe Grubbs of the Bakersfield Police Department, said: “There’s a natural phobia of clowns. And clearly if someone is dressed up as a clown and holding a weapon in a threatening manner that’s going to frighten people.”

You don’t say, Sgt Grubbs. Whether or not scaring people out their wits is a crime is a matter for the justice departments to tackle, but one thing is clear, whoever these clowns are, they are likely to make this Halloween one particularly freaky affair.