A bizarre clip has emerged from Paris, France of two men using magnets attached to strings to fish coins from a wishing well.

In the video, which was captured at the Palais Royal on September 19, a group of tourists looks on in amusement as the men attempt to scoop up the coins.

"They were making good money," the filmer wrote online.

"One on-looker was so impressed by their ingenuity, he give one of them a five euro note," she added.

According to the filmer, the men may not have been doing anything illegal because, although many tourists treat the pool as a wishing well, it is in fact a drain, which has been opened up as an architectural feature.

Today (19 September 2017) I filmed two old men (possibly homeless or beggars but unsure) using makeshift fishing rods with magnets attached to scoop up money from a drain used by tourists as a kind of unofficial wishing well at ge alais Royal in Paris. It's famous for its striped columns in the courtyard which you can see in the video. A group of tourists were looking on in amusement and no one tried to stop the guys. They were making good money and one on looker was so impressed by their ingenuity, he give one of them a €5 note (this happened before filming). As far as I can gather, this is not illegal because there were no signs saying "no fishing" and it's not actually an official wishing well. It's a water drain that's been opened up for people to see inside as part of the art installment in the courtyard. Some people might think it's a bit unethical to take the money but if people are going to be crazy enough to through their coins in a drain...You decide!