The episode of South Park that pokes fun at the death of Steve Irwin has been defended by the TV network behind it.

The scenes show the crocodile hunter attending a party held by Satan with a stingray protruding from his chest.

In a statement Tony Fox of Comedy Central said: "The South Park guys do inappropriate things all the time...Their goal is to make people laugh, not to offend people."

Other guests at the party include Hitler and Princess Diana while Hunter is thrown out for not wearing fancy dress.

Fox added: "We recognise that they (the South Park creators) do a lot of provocative things - is this one of them, probably yes.

"They are largely free to do what they like in terms of creativity and kinds of subject matter, and this is perhaps just another example of that."