A MAN wearing a Friday the 13th-style mask and wielding a knife was arrested after terrifying people in Newquay.

Police shared a photo of the mask and cleaver-style blade on Twitter with the message: "Imagine coming face to face with a person armed/wearing these."

They were called after the suspect was seen roaming the streets in the early hours of Saturday morning, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

A 45-year-old man was arrested by armed police – who were already on patrol in the area – and held in custody after the incident.

Police said multiple calls were made about the "Friday 13th type incident" in Fore Street.

The mask is similar to that worn by the killer in the Friday the 13th film series.

The knife appears to mimic a kitchen knife.

Both items were taken from the suspected offender.

Another chilling trend of "killer clowns" has involved crazed pranksters yielding weapons on the streets of Britain.

Many are inspired by Stephen King's 1986 horror novel It and the character Pennywise the Dancing Clown – a shape-shifting evil being that torments children by turning into whatever they fear most.

In 2016, Thames Valley Police were called to 14 reports of people being intimidated or frightened by people dressed as clowns over the course of two days.

Gloucestershire Police received six reports in 48 hours, while in Leicestershire one woman was scared so badly she went into early labour as the craze baffled much of the UK.

In September 2017 a spooky jester was reportedly jumping out on people in an Essex park.

The same month, it was reported that a knifeman dressed as a clown shouted "run or die" at two boys in Dartford, Kent.

And on August 25, a Sainsbury's Local was raided by a man wearing a clown mask.

Friday the 13th

Many consider Friday the 13th to be one of the unluckiest dates in the year.

Approximately 20 Friday the 13ths occur every decade.

The next time the date appears is in September 2019, then again in December 2019.

The phobia of the date has been translated into a hugely successful Hollywood horror film series called Friday the 13th.

Since 1980 the franchise has spawned 12 slasher movies focusing on the fictional character of Jason Voorhees, whose hockey mask has become a recognisable symbol for the series.

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