BERLIN: - Two childhood sweethearts - aged six and seven - from Hanover in northern Germany eloped on New Year's Day, and were determined to tie the knot under the African sun, police said yesterday.
The pair, identified as Mika and Anna-Lena, 'are very much in love, and decided to get married in Africa, where it is warm, taking with them as a witness Anna-Lena's younger sister, aged five', police spokesman Holger Jureczko said.
The idea for the romantic trip began when Mika told the two girls about his recent holiday in Italy as their families celebrated New Year's Eve together.
As the first dawn of 2009 broke, the trio started to put plans into action, packing essentials for the journey, including 'sunglasses, swimming trunks, a lilo, summer clothes and provisions'.
While their parents slept, they left their house in the suburbs of Hanover, walked a kilometre to a tram stop and took a tram to the central station.
While waiting for a train to the airport, they aroused the attention of a guard, who contacted the police.
Two officers managed to convince the young lovers they would struggle to get to Africa without money or a plane ticket.
As a consolation, the children were given a special tour of the police headquarters at Hanover, where they were especially taken with the detention cells.
Their relieved parents picked them up from the station, the spokesman said, and added: 'They can still put their plan into action at a later date.'
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE