Investigation launched as chilling ‘killer clown’ lurking in woods terrifies schoolchildren

Youngsters were left ‘petrified and shaken’ after reportedly spotting a menacing clown lurking in a Solihull nature reserve as they made their way to school.

The man – allegedly wearing a red clown wig, with a painted face and holding a red balloon with a picture of a knife – sparked terror after being spotted in Smiths Wood Nature Reserve on Wednesday morning.

He spooked schoolchildren on their way to Smith’s Wood Academy, in Windward Way, reportedly telling them to ‘come here’.

But the children – understood to be aged around 11 – fled the scene and reported the incident to their school.

Staff alerted police, who are now investigating the chilling incident.

A concerned parent alerted locals on Facebook, writing: “Just a heads-up. My daughter was walking to Smith’s Wood Academy with her friend just before 8am and saw a man dressed as a clown in the woods.

“He had a red clown wig on, painted face and was holding a red balloon with some sort of knife picture on it.

“He asked the girls to ‘come here’. The girls were not walking through the woods at the time, they were on the path on the main road.

“The school called me to let me know about it and told me they have rang police.

“My girl is petrified. She has been up and down all night having nightmares and is petrified to go out of the house to walk to school tomorrow.”

Police confirmed the incident and urged anyone with information to come forward.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: “Police received a report of a man dressed as a clown and scaring people near to Windward Way in Birmingham yesterday morning (20 November), just before 8.15am.

“Nobody was approached or touched by the man.

“Anyone who noticed any suspicious activity is asked to contact us via Live Chat at www.west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, or call 101 anytime.

“To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Quote log number 586 of November 20.”

The terrifying incident happened three years after the ‘killer clown’ craze gripped #Birmingham.

A spate of incidents were reported across the city and the UK in 2016, sparking widespread terror.

The first image of a menacing clown lurking in bushes in Birmingham was captured in Shard End in October 2016.

A chilling image was posted on Facebook reportedly showing a creepy joker hiding behind a sign, ready to scare drivers as they passed through a McDonald’s drive-thru.

BirminghamLive have approached Smith’s Wood Academy for a comment.

Read more: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/investigation-launched-chilling-killer-clown-17293345