BBC website down: Incredibly creepy clown in error message is freaking people out

The BBC News website has gone down and the error message is terrifying

The BBC News website has gone down due to a technical error, and vsitors to the site are now being greeted by this incredibly creepy image of a clown.

The clown was part of the iconic BBC test card image used on television for more than four decades.

Like other test cards, it was usually shown while no programmes were being broadcast.

But instead of the accompanying girl playing noughts and crosses that was used in the traditional test card, this time the clown stands in front of a flaming backdrop. And it's creeping a lot of people out.

Some described the eerie circus character as "demonic", while others claimed "the fiery clown apocalypse is evidently nigh".

Others have been discussing what the reason might be behind the website crash.

People on Twitter and Facebook to comment on the terrifying clown: