A US craze of evil-looking clowns terrorising children appears to have arrived in the UK.

The sinister craze has seen people dressing as clowns in America to scare others.

Now clowns have been spotted in Clacton, outside Clacton County High School, amid fears of an inappropriate approach to youngsters.

Essex Police has now launched an investigation after two children were asked if they wanted to attend a birthday party by two people dressed as clowns.

No attempts were made to grab or harm the girls and after they rejected the offer, the clowns left the area in a black van.

For the full story from our sister paper The Clacton Gazette, click here.