A pair of brother and sister twins were married in a strange Thai ritual 'to ward off bad luck'.

Child groom Assawin and his sister Atchariya, both seven, were married in a symbolic Buddhist ceremony at their home in Ayutthaya province, Thailand, on March 3.

Their parents Narakorn Kongsakul, 41, and Samniang Kaewsawat, 38, organised the lavish ritual attended by more than a hundred relatives and neighbours.

In keeping with traditional Thai weddings, a 'khan maak' wedding procession was held, with the groom carrying gifts and offerings to the bride's house.

A hefty dowry of 1.2 million baht (26,400 GBP), six ounces of 23ct gold, two diamond rings, and silver and gold necklaces was then offered before the siblings, wearing traditional Thai wedding outfits, exchanged rings as their friends surrounded them.

The children's grandparents Amnat Kongsakul, 68, and Krittiya Kongsakul, 72, said the ceremony followed ancient customs in Thailand.

Amnat said: 'It was our wish for the twins to be married. We feel better now they have had the ceremony. It will help them to have good lives.

'They can still marry whoever they want to when they are older but they will always be soul mates. This belief is many years old.'

According to ancient Buddhist beliefs, twins of opposite genders were star-crossed lovers in their past lives that have unfinished business, so they were born again together in this life.

If they fail to get married, superstitious locals believe that the twins will suffer ill health and bad luck so they are wed as soon as they are considered old enough, in order to remove 'bad karma' that may have followed them in this life.

The marriage is believed to ensure good health and long lives for the twins. It is not legally binding and is done only for ceremonial purposes.