Armed clowns are spreading fear in the south of France, with more than a dozen teen pranksters arrested for stalking locals.

Police say the group was arrested after complaints poured in.

The phenomenon of dressing as an evil clown and terrifying passers-by began up in the north of France early this month, and has also been seen in the US and Britain.

In the northern French town of Bethune, a fake clown last week received a suspended jail term for threatening people while in full circus garb.