Robert Pattinson scared of clowns

Twilight star Robert Pattinson has disclosed that he is scared of clowns after seeing one burn to death as a child.

The star, who plays fearless bloodsucker Edward Cullen in the vampire movies, claimed the horror happened at a family outing to a circus.

"The first time I went to the circus somebody died. One of the clowns died. His little car exploded. The joke car exploded on him. Seriously. Everybody ran out. It was terrifying," The Sun quoted him as saying on US Today show.

The actor said the tragedy led to crippling fears, which he had to confront when filming his new film Water For Elephants, about a veterinary student who joins a circus.