ITV has been fined for animal cruelty after contestants on 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' killed and ate a rat.

Chef Gino D'Acampo and 'Hollyoaks' actor Stuart Manning killed the animal with a knife when they were left without meat during the reality series.

PA reports that Chief Inspector David Oshannessy, from the Australian RSPCA, said ITV was fined 3,000 Australian dollars and will pay 2,576 dollars in costs.

He said: "It's a reasonable result. It reflects the fact that all animals are protected by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

"The animal was killed for a TV show, that's not appropriate. The raw footage indicates that, from the first attempt, it took about 90 seconds before it actually died.

"The legislation says that an animal can be killed for human consumption provided it does not cause unnecessary suffering. Had it been killed and it was over and done with, we might not be having this conversation."

ITV said it would make sure that nothing similar happened in future series, and would take advice from the RSPCA on the necessary training involved.