US clown craze spreads to Victoria

Victorian police won't tolerate people clowning around after reports the American clown craze has spread to Australia.

It began with reports of clowns trying to lure children into woods in the US state of South Carolina.

That led to clown groups sprouting across the US and mass clown hunts in other areas.

Police won't reveal where clowns have been sighted in Melbourne but have warned antisocial behaviour will be investigated.

One Facebook page, claiming to be the Melbourne Clown Association, warns residents of the city to "be ready" to face their horrific scares.

Another Facebook page with around 3000 likes has promised to hunt down clowns in the northern suburbs.

Numerous other "clown purge" Facebook pages have cropped up around Australia, including in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.