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Professional clowns are The Eyes Of A Drunk Female Employee Are Eroticincreasingly worried that their industry could suffer a fatal blow from the recent 'creepy clown' craze that has spread around the world.

"This has nothing to do with our business," Mattie Faint, veteran clown and curator of the clown museum in London, told Mashable.

"These people are wearing crazy masks and fake machetes ahead of Halloween, trying to scare people. It shouldn't be allowed, especially in these days of terrorism."

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Another clown, Bibbledy Bob, spokesman for the UK-based and world's oldest clown club Clowns International, called the pranksters "idiots who think it's OK to terrorise young people wearing cheap, horrible, nasty costumes".

"Hopefully they'll get arrested," he told Mashable.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Mattie and his colleagues are afraid the collective hysteria over these incidents could threaten their livelihood and affect their reputation, perhaps permanently.

"It's sad and worrisome for those who are clowning for a living," Faint said. "We've spent all our lives trying to make people laugh and in one swoop, through the media, we're at the centre of the attention for all the wrong reasons."

Spreading like a disease

The spread of clown sightings is, in part, due to social media. The first sighting occurred in August in South Carolina, when a group of children claimed that clowns had tried to lure them into the woods. Since then, creepy clown sights have occurred across the world, including in the UK.

"It's like a disease, spreading nationwide thanks to Facebook, Twitter and other social media," Faint said.

Faint said the clown entertainment industry could be affected due to the negative attention the art form is receiving.

"There's a strong possibility parents and hospitals will think of something else to entertain children. Children are very susceptible. If they decide something is scary, they won't like it," he said.

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"Clowns have existed for 2,000 years to make people laugh. In particular, those who don't have laughter in their lives -- like children in Syria, for example."

"This has nothing to do with real clowns."

Bibbledy Bob believes the creepy clown pranksters are inspired by Hollywood films and Halloween.

"It's all the Hollywood machinery effect to promote the remake of Stephen King's 'It' movie," he said. "I hope people will see common sense and the good work we do in hospitals to make children smile. This has nothing to do with real clowns."

A changing industry

There are several types of clowns; some are hired for birthday parties and fundraising events while others work in the circus or in hospitals. Despite the timeless -- and uncanny -- fascination with clowns figures, the industry is in slow decline.

"The industry is changing because we're now in competition with characters from Frozen or pirates," Faint said. "We're shocked and worried about this nationwide scare."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Police warning

Police in the UK have also expressed their concern and warned pranksters to stop or face arrest.

It follows a spate of incidents over the weekend where people dressed as clowns armed with knives and jumped out of bushes, frightened children and chased pedestrians.

The incidents are considered a criminal offence.

Commander Julian Bennett, who has assessed the "Killer Clown" incidents in London, said in a press release that three of the incidents are considered criminal offences and have left people feeling scared, anxious and intimidated.

He urged those responsible to consider the impact their actions have on others.

Dozens of incidents

As clown sightings keep occurring across the United States and the world, the UK has seen an influx in recent weeks.

In just one day, Thames Valley Police were called to 14 incidents of people being intimidated or frightened by others dressed as clowns.

“Their actions can cause fear and anxiety to other people, this could be perceived as intimidating and threatening which could lead to public order offences, arrest and a criminal record," Chief Supt. Andy Boyd, head of neighbourhood policing, said.

At least six clown-related incidents have been reported in Newcastle since Sept. 30, leaving parents and teachers very worried, according to Northumbria Police. Other incidents were reported in Norfolk, Suffolk, south Wales, Cumbria, Gloucestershire, Bedfordshire and Essex.

In County Durham, a knife-wielding man dressed as a clown jumped out on two children, aged 11 and 12, on their way to school.