A TOWN has been left spooked by the mysterious appearances of a man dressed in a creepy CLOWN costume.
The sinister figure - who first appeared on Friday the 13th - has been spotted on street corners around Northampton waving and staring at passersby.

A terrified resident said: "He doesn't juggle. He doesn't twist balloons into animal shapes. He just stares."

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One woman even reported the red-haired, white-faced clown had knocked on her front door and offered to paint her windowsills - despite having no equipment on him.
There has been no explanation for the sudden night-time appearances of the joker - who bears a striking resemblance to murderous Pennywise from the 1990 horror film It.

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But someone claiming to be the mystery character behind the mask has set up a Facebook group detailing his exploits - with a picture of the feared jester at the top of the page.

He signs off each update with "beep beep" - the notorious Stephen King characters catchphrase.

With the town in clown-inspired panic, some Northampton residents have threatened to ATTACK the silent joker next time he is seen.

But he pleaded: "I don't terrorise people. I just want to be spotted."

He has been seem in locations across the town since he first appeared on Friday.

Since then he has been snapped by locals clutching a set of juggling clubs and a bunch of colourful balloons, while in another shot he is dangling a teddy bear.

The most recent picture, taken on Sunday evening, showed him in the middle of a shopping district at around 11pm.

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In a caption on the Facebook page he wrote: Beep Beep! Didnt think id be seen tonight. Extremely quiet but there were a few of you who saw. See you all around.

Some social network users with coulrophobia - a fear of clowns - have pleaded with him to stop.
Others say they are simply freaked out by his late night appearances.

Kelly Keen wrote: Youve been spotted now get out of the clown suit and start acting like a grown up that you supposing are and stop scaring people as some people do have real fears of clowns and you are terrorising them despite what you may say.

Britney Pugh added: Youre scary why are you even doing that?

However, others praised the prankster for creating a talking point among locals and providing local mystery.

Jay Gould wrote: Poor clown just trying to liven up Northampton and people threatening to hurt him.

Jessica Maffre said: Loving all this, its brightened up boring old Northampton a treat, people need to stop taking things so serious and just enjoy the fun, dont try and ruin it, and please dont be violent towards the clown.

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