Funny clown faces meant to cheer young patients actually terrify them

In a child's eyes, the most scary thing about hospitals isn't the needles or even the dinner trolley.

It's the clowns painted on the walls.

A survey of young patients found that most were terrified by the red noses and grinning faces.

Of the 250 respondents, aged four to 16, even the older ones said clowns were "scary", according to the survey by Sheffield University.

Researcher Dr Penny Curtis said: "Given that children and young people do not find hospitals frightening per se - and only express fear about those spaces associated with needles - this finding is somewhat ironic."

Those who weren't scared often thought the clowns were "babyish", the survey found.

Other popular motifs for the walls of children's wards came in for the same criticism, including balloons, cats, horses, penguins and rabbits.

"The babyish feel of hospital decor is something that child patients between seven and 16 tolerated, rather than appreciated," the report stated.

The study suggests that hospitals need to rethink their decor.

Coulrophobia - the exaggerated fear of clowns - is already a recognised condition, common in children, teenagers and even adults.

Sufferers often acquire the fear from a bad experience as a child or through associations from the media.

But professional clowns have rejected the idea that their faces are a health hazard.

They point to valuable one-to-one "therapy" taking place with sick children by specially trained clowns.

Tony Eldridge, secretary of Clowns International, said: "There have been studies that show giving children entertainment from clowns can be a very good way of giving them therapy at a time they may be suffering from a dreadful illness.

"For everyone a little bit of life and laughter is always of therapeutic benefit. We live in a world where everything is banned and it has got rather silly."

The Space to Care study, aimed at improving hospital design for youngsters, was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.