It is often said that money doesn't grow on trees.

But a group of German hikers were forced to question that wisdom when they found themselves caught in a deluge of 50 euro notes.

The walkers were relaxing at a campsite in the Mirow area of north-eastern Germany when the cash began to fall from an oak tree overhead.

Lucky find: A group of hikers in Germany could be set to claim a £160,000 windfall, after a deluge of 50 euro notes fell from an oak tree in their campsite (file image)

They dutifully collected as much as they could - and were astonished to find it amounted to around £160,000.

On closer inspection, they discovered it had been placed in a plastic bag among the branches.

The sack had been tied with an elastic band that then melted in hot weather - sending the notes cascading over the campsite near Berlin last week.

Windfall: If authorities are unable to find the real owner of the cash within six months, German law says the campers will be able to keep the lot (file photo)

The site's owner claims the money is his, but there has been no explanation for why it was up a tree.

Authorities have yet to discover the real owner of the money, although it is suspected that the money could be linked to a fire in a cottage on the site earlier that week.