Popular circus clown performance axed for being TOO scary in wake of Killer Clown craze sweeping UK
A KILLER Clown has been left "devastated" after his performance at the Circus of Horrors was dubbed "too scary" by bosses.
Gutted Doug Child has played horrifying Rellik the Psycho Clown for audiences over the last two years.
However he will now have to come up with a new character, the reports.
Circus bosses are concerned that his act is too scary for crowds, given the Killer Clown craze that has swept Britain in recent years.
In just 24 hours last October, Thames Valley Police attended 14 incidents linked to the craze.
And the recent release of the Stephen King film adaption IT, which tells the story of a killer clown killing young children, could also keep the craze going another year.
Circus of Horrors creator Dr Haze said: “Our philosophy has always been that people like to be scared and not be harmed.
"But with last year’s Killer Clown outbreak people began to fear that they would be harmed.
“Stephen King’s IT is a different thing, it is clearly a movie and Pennywise isn’t going to jump out of the screen.
“And with another copy-cat Killer Clown outbreak expected this Halloween, we decided to go down a different route to create a scare that wouldn’t put people off coming.”
Doug, 40, said: “I am devastated.
"I have work in the FearFestival in Chepstow for Halloween but then that’s it.”
Not so funny... How killer clown sightings terrorised Britain last year
HERE are just some of the chilling UK clown sightings in just one week during the height of the craze last year
CHESTER-LE-STREET, Co Durham: A knife-wielding clown pursued four young children, aged 11 and 12, on their way to school.
STRETFORD, Gtr Manchester: Children were left “petrified” by a driver motoring through the streets wearing a clown mask.
GLOUCESTER: Six reports were made of “pranksters” dressed as clowns wielding knives, following people or acting suspiciously.
ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, Gtr Manchester: A man dressed as a clown with an outfit including “a hockey mask and a blood-stained poncho” was captured on camera.
ELLESMERE PORT, Cheshire: Residents reported clowns roaming the streets. Two teenage girls were said to have been chased.
PLYMOUTH: A man posted a video online showing him being confronted at night in the town by a clown armed with a hammer. Meanwhile, multiple reports were received of people dressed as clowns, including one near a school bus. Another incident saw children chased through woodland.
BROTTON, North Yorks: A young girl reported seeing a figure wearing a clown mask and carrying a blade, while a woman and her daughter were followed by a clown while walking late at night.
SUDBURY, Suffolk: “Several people dressed as clowns” chased a boy “younger than a teenager”, according to police.
LIVERPOOL: A man dressed as a clown was seen driving a Ford Transit van through the city centre.
DUNDEE: Cops were called to Finlathen Park after eight youngsters in clown masks were spotted frightening motorists in the area.
SHEFFIELD: A clown was spotted driving around the Hillsborough area using a mobility scooter. Pictures circulated on social media.
PONTELAND, Northumberland: Pupils at Ponteland Middle School were confronted by a man dressed as a clown on the school grounds who chased them across playing fields.
CLACTON, Essex: Two young girls on their way to school were approached by a pair of male clowns in a black van who invited the girls to a birthday party. The girls fled in terror.
CAERNARFON, North Wales: Residents witnessed a clown lurking near a kids’ play centre late at night.
NEWCASTLE: A 13-year-old boy was given a police warning after allegedly dressing as a clown and scaring passers-by. Cops confiscated a knife.
NORTH SHIELDS, Tyne and Wear: Panicked pupils at Thomas More Academy were rushed inside after a figure in a white mask and red wig was seen approaching schoolchildren.
CRAWLEY, Sussex: A clown was pictured standing on a street corner in the night.
MANCHESTER: Two clowns were seen running from bushes and jumping onto cars outside a shopping centre on Sunday evening.
BRACKNELL, Berks: A clown was picture staring into a restaurant full of diners
MOST READ IN NEWS
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.