The world's first laughter school has opened its doors in Berlin to teach serious minded Germans to lighten up.

Laughter teacher Susanne Maier said people who sign up for the courses practice exercises to teach them all the different types of laughs.

Standing around in small groups, Germans are seen slapping themselves on the forehead with their mouths wide open and practising different types of laughter.

Meyer said: "The most important laugh is the believable laugh, especially here in a land that has forgotten how to laugh.

"But I am hoping to see laughter schools opening up everywhere. Germany will become a land of laughter - and Berlin the laughter capital of Europe."