LONDON — Creepy clowns are giving terrified Brits the spooks, as hundreds of sightings are reported across England, Scotland and Wales. <br /> <br />With Halloween fast approaching, the creepy clown phenomenon is shaping up to be the most frightful export since Spam to cross the Atlantic. <br /> <br />Just last Sunday, a mother from Manchester reported that she and her two young daughters were menaced by a pair of creepy clowns, the Sun reported. <br /> <br />One of the sinister-looking pranksters jumped on the woman’s car and brandished a machete, although the weapon may have been fake. Meanwhile, the clown’s partner in creepiness put the willies up the two young girls. <br /> <br />Police forces across the UK have warned the public about the threat from creepy clowns, who appear to have been inspired by a craze that began in the U.S. in late summer. <br /> <br />Although most reports UK police have received are about clowns lurking, or jumping out in front of people more serious complaints have included a knife-wielding clown chasing children in Newcastle, and the robbery of a teenage girl by a clown in Gloucester, according to the Daily Mail. <br /> <br />Meanwhile, an eight-months pregnant woman from Leicester claimed she went into labour prematurely when she was startled by a creepy clown. Thankfully, reports say both mother and baby were doing well. <br /> <br />Dressing up as a clown isn’t a criminal offense in the UK, but creepy clowns face a 1,000-pound fine if found guilty of causing alarm and distress, Russia Today reported. And if they’re carrying a weapon they could even face jail time. <br /> <br />But with Halloween still a few weeks away, we’re guessing that all this clowning around is only just getting started.
