AN AMERICAN craze sweeping across England has landed in Carnforth - but a cop warns local police will do their best to stamp it out.

Happy Slapping, which started out in the United States, involves groups of youngsters slapping a passer-by while one of the group films the incident on their camera phone.

A 12-year-old Carnforth boy fell victim to the new fad when he was surrounded by a group while riding his bicycle along the towpath of the Lancaster Canal.

Luckily the boy was not hurt - but Detective Sergeant Sean Carthy says this latest youth culture craze will not be tolerated.

"It started in America and moved to the bigger cities in England and now it seems to have arrived here," he told the Citizen.

"It involves people assaulting passers-by and it is irresponsible to say the least. This has been covered by the national press and television stations and seems to encourage people to copy it. We will certainly take action against any culprits."

And he adds: "What pleasure anyone can derive from filming this sort of thing is one that beats me. It is just stupidity."