Prince was voted the world's sexiest vegetarian male in an online poll by a US campaign group.

Veggies chose the vegan pop star in an annual survey by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, commonly known as PETA.

The sleeve notes for the star's 1999 album Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic quoted Mohandas Gandhi on animals. They said: "2 my mind the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being."

Actress Kristen Bell – who stars in US drama Veronica Mars – was chosen as the sexiest female.

"I had a hard time disassociating the animals I cuddled with – dogs and cats, for example – from the animals on my plate," she commented of her choice. "And I never really cared for the taste of meat. I always loved my Brussels sprouts!"

The pair beat nominees including Natalie Portman, Nicollette Sheridan and Joaquin Phoenix.