Creepy clowns terrorise California towns

Police are dealing with a host of complaints after freaked out members of the public reported seeing clowns standing in public places holding baseball bats and machetes.

According to the Independent, the creepy clowns could have been sparked by the return of the TV drama American Horror Story, which recently launched a freakshow-themed season.

A clown in the city of Wasco started posting pictures of himself on Instagram in public places late at night with scarily-smeared face paint, but has said the photos are part of a husband and wife art project.

According to Buzzfeed.com, a Wasco officer said: "We have had no reports of any assaults by a clown nor have we any arrests of any clowns at any time I have been here and I have been here two years."

One picture shows the Wasco clown standing in a child's playground and the caption eerily reads: "Come play with me."

However the clown story is a little different in another town. Bakersfield police have so far had 16 reports of clowns wielding weapons.

One teen was arrested on suspicion of annoying a minor after taking the joke too far and leaving the victim "shaken".

The prankster reportedly admitted to copying the idea of the Wasco clown.

Sgt Joseph Grubbs said police are taking the clown reports seriously because it could turn into something more dangerous, telling the LA Times: "We will make arrests on this. We want this to stop."

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