Twenty people who spent the night in a cable car stuck 100 metres (325 feet) up the Bavarian alps, in southern Germany, were rescued by helicopter today, police said.

Their ordeal began yesterday afternoon when a paraglider hit a cable, causing the mechanism to stop, a police spokesman told AFP.

Some cable car passengers were brought down safely later yesterday but the rescue efforts were suspended at nightfall leaving 20 people still suspended in a 12 square metre (130 square foot) compartment not far from the Ludwig II Neuschwanstein castle, a major tourist attraction.

Rescue workers did at least manage to provide them with food and drink, and toys for the children stranded overnight.

In the early morning the rescue efforts resumed by helicopter and all involved were brought back down and were in good health, police said.