A hotel in the Maldives has apologised to a Swiss couple who thought they were renewing their marriage vows, but were actually being subjected to a torrent of abuse.

The couple thought the staff member who was presiding over the ceremony was delivering a blessing in the local language.

But it has now emerged that the celebrant was abusing them with insults such as "swine" and "infidel".

Unaware of what was really happening, they smiled throughout the ceremony.

The couple were only alerted to the prank when a clip from the ceremony was posted on YouTube and picked up by local media.

The Maldives' foreign minister has also expressed his horror at the incident.

-BBC