A group of British friends have taken a stranger on an all-expenses paid holiday after their friend with the same name couldn’t attend.

Joe McGrath, from Manchester, was randomly contacted by Dan Gobio on Facebook Messenger on April 5.

“Would you consider coming on a holiday with a group of nine strangers if they had already arranged flights for you and an all-inclusive hotel,” Mr Gobio asked.

He explained to Mr McGrath that their friend, also named Joe McGrath, couldn’t attend a 30 th birthday surprise party in Mallorca, Spain.

“We have already booked it all up for him,” Mr Gobio explained.

A “surprised” Mr McGrath told BBC News he decided to “take the plunge” after a couple of days re-assuring himself the invite was legitimate.

"I must be a bit mad. I was fully up for it.”

By simply adding his passport details to the booking reference, Mr McGrath replaced the “real” Mr McGrath and set off on a three-day holiday.

He posted images of his new friends enjoying the Spanish sunshine by their hotel pool, garnering thousands of “likes” on Twitter.

Asked by the BBC as to whether he will ever meet with the original Joe McGrath, the 21-year-old said he was hopeful.

Mr McGrath, 21, enjoyed the Spanish sunshine with his new friends. (Twitter via @joemcgrath)