A PAIR of elderly German men escaped from their nursing home to go to a heavy metal festival, it was reported.

After the home reported them missing, police found the two at 3am at Wacken Open Air, the world’s biggest heavy metal festival.

A police spokeswoman said they were in a "disoriented and dazed” state but nonetheless were reluctant to leave, Deutsche Welle reported.

Eventually they were persuaded to leave and police escorted them home with the help of a taxi and a patrol car.

"They obviously liked the metal festival," police spokeswoman Merle Neufeld told public broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk.

"The care home quickly organised a return transport after police picked them up."

A sell out crowd of more then 75,000 people was expected for the four-day festival, 29th time the legendary event has been held.

Headline acts this year include Danzig, Judas Priest, Hatebreed, In Flames, Running Wild, Arch Enemy, In Extremo and Eskimo Callboy.

The festival in Schleswig Holstein is usually swamped in mud but this year a heatwave saw organisers warn fans against fire and dust.