A NORTH-EAST clown is hoping that the re-release of Stephen King’s IT will not reignite the killer clown craze of 2016.

The creepy child-killing clown Pennywise will return to the big screen today in a new adaptation of the renowned horror author’s terrifying novel.

The Northern Echo: CLOWN: Paul Lanagan as Billy Purvis the Victorian clown

Paul Lanagan as Billy Purvis the Victorian clown

Paul Lanagan, whose alter ego is Victorian clown Billy Purvis, is concerned that the film will lead to the re-emergence of the so-called ‘killer clowns’ that stalked the streets last year.

Throughout 2016, police across the country were forced to tackle a number of reports of people dressing up as clowns to terrorise the public, some of them arming themselves with weapons and chasing people.

Mr Lanagan told The Northern Echo that he always makes an effort to ensure nobody is inadvertently frightened by him in his Billy Purvis guise.

Purvis was a clown that used to visit the Houghton Feast, in Houghton-le-Spring throughout the 19th century.

Mr Lanagan reintroduced him to the annual event in 2009 and has been participating in the carnival parade as Billy Purvis ever since.

He said: “The re-enactment is a great way to share this aspect of the town’s heritage.

“During the 2016 feast I was very much aware of the reports of incidents involving ‘killer clowns’ but was pleased with the warm reception Billy the Clown was given.

“Not everybody likes clowns – they're unpredictable and this can make people nervous, so to combat this I always wait for people to approach first.

“I keep a daft smile on my face and wave or give the thumbs up. This stops anybody from getting an inadvertent fright.”

He accused those responsible for last year’s spate of clown sightings of damaging the clowning profession.

Mr Lanagan said: “They were not only scaring the public but tarnishing the reputations of the professional clowns and spoiling what should be a traditional part of the British heritage.

“It takes a lot of skill to make people smile and laugh but anybody can put a cheap mask on and scare somebody.”

He added: “I do hope the new IT movie does not reignite the killer clown craze. “Hopefully folk will enjoy the horror movie for what it is but be sensible enough not to going around scaring people inappropriately.”