A charity has blasted idiots dressing up as clowns to scare kids need to "take a long hard look at themselves"

Terrified children are bombarding a charity helpline because they are so frightened about harassment from ‘creepy clowns’ – an unpleasant phenomenon sweeping the country.

In just one week Childline has been contacted 120 times by children scared by the sinister trend in which people dress up as terrifying clowns in order to scare passers-by.

A quarter of those contacting the freephone helpline about clowns were under the age of 11, and contacts came in to its bases across the UK.

People getting dressed up as ‘creepy clowns’ and frightening children should take a long hard look at themselves

In Scotland call handlers in Glasgow and Aberdeen have so far conducted 12 and 10 counselling sessions respectively with worried children.

The sudden deluge of contacts to Childline, which is operated by the charity NSPCC, reflects an increase of reported incidents across the UK.

Cases reported to police have involved clowns chasing children with weapons such as knives or baseball bats and in some instances clowns have been specifically targeting schools.

In Dunbar, East Lothian, a clown was spotted chasing terrified school children and stopped traffic by jumping onto the road.

Children have also been targeted online, and in one instance in which a 13-year-old girl was messaged on Instagram from someone posing as a clown who threatened to cut her throat and rape her.

An NSPCC Scotland spokesperson said: “People getting dressed up as ‘creepy clowns’ and frightening children should take a long hard look at themselves.

“Clowns are meant to make children laugh but these people are abusing this idea and turning it into something twisted and warped. Increasing reports that these ‘clowns’ are not simply seeking to frighten children but using them to intimidate, commit crimes, abuse or bully are deeply worrying and this trend needs to be stamped out.

“Young people should stay well away from them. And if they do happen to see a ‘creepy clown’ out on the streets or lurking near their school they should immediately tell their parents or the nearest responsible adult and report it to the police where necessary.”

The charity has now issued guidance to children worried about the phenomenon.