THE alleged sightings of clowns in multiple locations around Swindon have sparked a frenzy of online reaction.

Late on Friday, the administrators of a popular local Facebook group posted a grainy picture that they claimed showed two clowns following an apparent sighting in the Pinehurst area.

It later emerged that the picture had originated on an Australian news website however that did not stop the hysteric online response that followed.

The post was shared almost 1,000 times in under 24 hours – users of the social media site have responded with everything from terror to bravado, some have even threatened to use violence against any clowns they see.

The first possible sighting in Swindon follows warnings from police forces around the country about incidents involving clowns.

The clown craze, which has seen individuals in costumes carrying out sinister pranks in the hope of terrifying adults and children, had previously been confined to the United States.

But in recent days it has made its way across the Atlantic to British towns and cities.

Friday's alleged sighting in Pinehurst has since been followed by at a number of further possible sightings.

A woman, who has not been named, took to Facebook on Saturday night to claim she had seen two people in clown costumes hiding in bushes near Rodbourne fields.

Another claimed that two young boys had been chased in Haydon End while there was a further alleged sighting near Windrush.

Adver readers have also been getting in touch to share their clown encounters.

Anya Rose Carty said: “I saw a clown behind The Manor pub on Cheney Manor Road in the bushes down there.

Another, a concerned resident of Pinehurst, said her children were playing outside when they were warned by a man not to go to the park as four men dressed as clowns were lurking there.

The children were said to be terrified and struggling to sleep.

Further incidents have been reported in Cricklade, Royal Wootton Bassett, Redhouse and Freshbrook.

Around half a dozen Instagram accounts were set up over the weekend claiming to be Swindon and Wiltshire based clown pranksters.

Some made mention of specific locations they planned to target, including schools, but most have now been deleted.

Commenting on the Facebook discussion about the clown sightings, Susan Webb said: “It might be ‘funny’ to scare adults because we can deal with it but what about the children?

“It can cause long term psychological damage to little ones so if people are doing this they need to pack it in.”

Others talked about being too scared to leave their homes and said they would reconsider allowing their children to take part in trick or treat outings at Halloween.

A small number said they would attack the clowns if they came across them, others made references to baseball bats and bull bars.

But at least one man, Liam Tucker, asked what the fuss was all about.

“What is even scary about clowns in the first place,” he said.

“I don’t get it, I’m assuming it’s fashionable to be scared of them.”

Have you seen any clowns lurking around parks or woodland in Swindon?

Get in touch via Facebook or Twitter to let us know.