Frankfurt  - Four children distributed 15,000 euros (21,880 dollars) to their friends after finding a cash-filled envelope on their way to school in Frankfurt, police said on Thursday.

The boys and girls aged 10 to 13 handed the money out in the school yard on Wednesday morning.

"One of the children had second thoughts about whether this was all OK, and mentioned it to a teacher," said police spokesman Karlheinz Wagner.

The children were asked to return the money, so it could be given to the police.

Initially, the kids only handed in 12,000 euros. After a second appeal, the school was able to collect 14,040 euros of the original find.

The envelope containing the cash had also held copies of identification documents belonging to an Afghan national, enabling the police to contact the owner.

Officials told the man they had found his documents, and he in turn said he had lost 15,000 euros intended for a trip to China.

Since the man could not initially prove that the money was his, it was not handed to him straight away. The children also had to wait to find out whether they were entitled to a finders' reward. (dpa)