FORMER Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson has urged animal lovers to adopt a monkey or ape.

The I'm A Celebrity contestant and her boyfriend Marcus Bent, who plays football for Wigan, went to visit the newest `member of their family', chimpanzee Bryan, at Monkey World near Wool, Dorset.

Gemma, 23, from Bury, and Marcus 30 adopted Bryan after he was rescued from Cancun, Mexico where he was being trained as a beach photographer's prop. His teeth had been knocked out to stop him biting tourists.

Gemma said: "We are delighted to help out. This is a brilliant cause and we only hope that other people jump on board and adopt."