Two elderly men had to be picked up by police after sneaking out of their nursing home to attend the world's biggest metal music festival, according to German media reports.

Wacken Open Air, which takes place in the northern German town of Wacken, took place over the weekend of 2-4 August.

According to public radio broadcast NDR, nursing staff contacted police after they noticed that two of the home's residents were missing.

The pair were found at the festival at 3am in a state that police spokesperson Merle Neufeld described as "disoriented and dazed".

"They obviously liked the metal festival," she continued. "The care home quickly organised return transport after police picked them up."

Artists performing at this year's Wacken Open Air included Judas Priest, Danzig, Red Hot Chili Pipers and In Flames.