Organisers of a major Scout gathering in the Highlands have issued a ban on youngsters dressing up as clowns.
Any clowns found at the Cally Rally event at Dochgarroch, near Inverness, will be treated as a “potential security issue” and “removed from the site”.
The warning was issued following several reports of the “creepy clown” craze across the north and north-east.
The trend, which originated in the US, has involved clowns chasing children, occasionally while holding weapons, and in some cases schools were targeted.
Dozens of youngsters will head to the Cally Rally by the Caledonian Canal today for the start of a three day Scout event, which will feature a range of activities, including a Halloween disco.
But organisers have issued a warning on their social media page against anyone planning to attend dressed as a clown.
It said: “In response to police information relating to disturbances in the Inverness area involving clown outfits, we ask that nobody takes clown outfits to Cally Rally for the Halloween-themed disco.
“This is a potential security issue and shall be treated as such.”
An earlier post said that “on police advice clown outfits are not allowed. Clowns will be removed from site”.
Keith Moncour, deputy camp chief, told the Press and Journal they did not want the issue to distract from the event.
“We have lots of young people attending our Cally Rally this weekend for what is going to be an exciting camp full of fun and adventure,” he said.
“In response to advice that has been issued in the media by local police we have decided to issue a warning that anyone dressed as a clown will not be allowed on site.
“The last thing we want is any distractions from what is going to be a fun and exciting event.”
In just one week, the NSPCC’s Childline service received 120 calls from children across the UK scared by the fad of people dressing up as clowns to frighten passers-by, with nearly a fifth of the calls were from Scotland.
Earlier this month, the Press and Journal reported that 10-year-old Neva Shand had been left “screaming and hysterical” after she was approached by a mask-wearing prankster in a play park in Inverness.
