THERE have been at least eight more sightings of clowns reported to Dorset Police.

The first reported incident related to a clown spotted by school children at the copse behind Bournemouth School, at East Way, at 1.27pm. Police searched the area but nothing was found.

At 3.51pm, children reported a clown believed to be holding a small knife, at woodlands opposite The Bishop of Winchester Academy on Mallard Road. Officers searched the area and spoke with residents nearby but were unable to find any sign of the clown in question.

Then at 4.10pm, a clown was seen holding a balloon at a field at Burton Road in Christchurch.

Residents also spotted seeing a clown wearing a mask at 8.14pm at Poundbury Cemetery in Dorchester; two clowns seen running away in Links Road at 9.10pm; and three clowns were seen in Longcroft Road and Pottery Lane in Weymouth, at 12.19am the following morning.

A clown was seen in a vehicle at Bridle Crescent in Bournemouth at 8.27pm.

There was also a sighting of a clown at Gerrards Green at 8.16pm in Beaminster - however there was a Halloween party at a youth club nearby.

As previously reported, a shopper was threatened with a plastic meat cleaver at Tesco in Penny’s Walk in Ferndown on Tuesday.

And last Friday police were called to a “frightening” attack in Richmond Park Road at 11pm. The victim was walking by when a man, dressed as a clown, grabbed him and dragged him along the road. The victim was left with a bloody nose, ripped jeans and grazes to his knee.

A spokesperson for the NSPCC said Childline had been contacted 120 times in just one week, adding: “People getting dressed up as ‘creepy clowns’ and frightening children should take a long hard look at themselves.

"Clowns are meant to make children laugh but these people are abusing this idea and turning it into something twisted and warped. Increasing reports that these ‘clowns’ are not simply seeking to frighten children but using them to intimidate, commit crimes, abuse or bully are deeply worrying and this trend needs to be stamped out.”