Two teenage boys were left shaken after reportedly being stalked by a man in a clown costume.

Police were called to the Hampton Pier area of Herne Bay to reports of a person in fancy dress acting "creepily" by hiding behind the sea wall and swaying from side to side.

A warning has been issued to people in the area by a parent of one of the boys, which has been shared on a local Facebook group.

The incident, which happened shortly after 10pm yesterday, was reported to police.

The post states: "My 17-year-old son has just come home with his friend and they have both been followed along Hampton Pier to just past the park by someone dressed in a full clown outfit.

"They were acting strangely, walking fast behind them, hiding and crouching behind the sea wall [and] acting creepily like they were acting out a killer clown.

"My son and his friend hid for a couple of minutes and this clown was stood by the park along the sea wall swaying side to side. They ran home.

"They were acting strange, walking fast behind them, hiding and crouching behind the sea wall [and] acting creepy like they were acting out a killer clown..."

"They tried to video it but it was too dark."

The parent said they phoned the police after the boys were left "a bit shaken".

Officers confirmed they were contacted at 11.20pm yesterday and it was reported two teenage boys had been followed by a person in Western Esplanade, Herne Bay, at about 10.10pm that evening.

"The person did not attempt to speak to the boys and no offences have been identified," a spokesman for the force said.

"A local patrol carried out a search of the area but no one matching the description was located."

It is understood the person was not reported to be armed.

The incident echoes reports of so-called "killer clown" sightings in 2016, when people disguised themselves as creepy clowns near forests and schools.