A CLOWN who sparked a national outcry after being axed from a Bicester fun day has not been invited back to the town.

Charlie the Clown has attended events in Bicester for the past eight years, but this summer he will not be making an appearance.

But he has put a brave face on it, saying he expects to be back in the future.

Bicester Town Council hit the national headlines when it dropped Charlie from one of its events last July - saying children were scared of clowns.

Council leader Debbie Pickford confirmed Charlie had not been invited to any of the town's events this summer.

She said: "It's not anything personal. Each year we need different events.

"We are revamping all our events. Charlie doesn't fit with some of them and we need a change. It's nothing to do with children being scared of clowns."

But Miss Pickford added: "My nephew was scared of him when he was two."

Town mayor John Cozens, chairman of the summer festival working party, added: "I don't think kids are scared of clowns. He's still on our list and if anything suitable comes up he will be back."

But opposition councillor Les Sibley said he was unconvinced.

He said: "I think it makes the town council look a bit of a clown.

"I don't know about making children cry, this sort of attitude makes councillors cry.

"They have made it absolutely clear they did not want Charlie the Clown under any circumstances because of the embarrassment they had last year.

"I think that is the real reason he is not coming back.

"They are not learning the lessons of the embarrassment this town council suffered last time.

"These people are putting their feet in their mouths again.

"It just makes us all look idiots."

Last summer Charlie said he was saddened by the decision to drop him from the fun day and denied claims that children suffered from the condition coulrophobia, a fear of clowns.

But the children's entertainer, aka Charlie Casey from East Sussex, said he was sure it would not be long before he was invited back.

He said: "A lot of events have a change of entertainer. It's good for me and good for the event.

"I know they will have me back another time.

"Bicester Town Council have always been very nice to me and I hope our relationship continues."