The news that will no doubt have clowns shedding tears was revealed in a poll of youngsters, conducted by researchers from the University of Sheffield to see how to improve the decor of hospital children's wards.
The study, reported in the Nursing Standard magazine, found all the 250 respondents between 4 and 16 years old disliked the use of clowns, with even the older ones finding them scary.
"As adults we make assumptions about what works for children," said Penny Curtis, a senior lecturer in research at the university. "We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them quite frightening and unknowable." - (Reuters Health)
Read more:
UK bans clown's latex act
January 2008