A terrified woman was chased down an Archway road in the early hours of yesterday morning by a knife-wielding “killer clown”.

The victim was walking along Marlborough Road when she saw a man in dark clothing and a clown mask on a bike. He was carrying a knife and began to follow her but she managed to escape.

He then ran off towards Hornsey Road and could not be found by police.

The “killer clown” craze involves people dressing up and intimidating others in the street. It started in the USA and is thought to have been influenced by Stephen King’s classic horror story It.

The craze has now spread across the UK and the rest of the world. Scotland Yard is investigating three separate incidents that took place over the last week, and detectives are warning there are likely to be more before Halloween.

On Thursday a man was chased by a “clown” with a hockey stick near Latimer Road Tube station and this morning two children ran home after seeing one in Bonham Road, Dagenham.

Cdr Julian Bennett is leading the Met’s “autumn nights campaign” to protect the vulnerable as the nights draw in.

He said: “Our primary responsibility is identifying and investigating those incidents where a criminal offence has occurred.

“However, anti-social behaviour can leave people feeling scared, anxious and intimidated and I would urge those who are causing fear and alarm to carefully consider the impact their actions have on others.

“In the run up to Halloween it is expected that these types of incidents will increase but with the launch of our annual autumn nights campaign in the coming weeks Safer Neighbourhood Officers working in partnership with other agencies will be carrying out additional reassurance patrols and will be on hand for those who are especially vulnerable during this period.

“While we do not want to stop people from enjoying themselves it is important that while having fun they remember to act in a responsible manner and understand they could be prosecuted if a criminal offence is committed.”

Anyone with information about the incident in Marlborough Road is asked to call police on 101.