What's worse than learning how to abseil down cliffs, slaughter a cow, or deal with poisonous animals? Having it all filmed for television as well!

But 23-year-old Amanda Barr from St Annes took it in her stride when Discovery Channel turned up to film her seven month RSPCA inspector training course.

The result, RSPCA: Have You Got What It Takes, starts on Monday, and the 13-part documentary shows Amanda, and her 18 fellow trainees, descending cliffs and tower blocks, swimming icy rivers, learning how to handle everything from a python to a bear, and coping with animal cruelty cases.

Amanda, a graduate in animal science, said: "It was a bit of a double whammy. We turned up for the first day of training and there was a camera crew there! They filmed us through the whole course -- including all the stressful times.

"It was amazing though. I can't think of any other job where you have to power boat, and abseil, and have all that animal handling experience."

The former Lytham St Annes High pupil admitted there were times when she was 'apprehensive'. "We had to go a slaughter house and do training to be able to stun and slaughter an animal if needs be. I just had it in my mind that I had to do it, because it's part of the job.

"But everything we have done in the training is what we need in the job."

Amanda beat around 1,000 other applicants to get a place on the course at the RSPCA's Sussex headquarters, and she is now a fully-fledged inspector in West Yorkshire.

"I've worked with animals most of my life. We had a caravan on a farm in Wales, so from about three I have always been around animals. I've worked on sheep farms and dairy farms.

"The last job I was doing was dog warden, but I was getting frustrated that I couldn't do any of the welfare work, being able to advise people."

So becoming an RSPCA inspector is a dream job for Amanda, who was a volunteer for the charity at 13. She said "It's everything I expected, and more. My family and friends are so chuffed for me. I worked so hard to get the job. Even to start the course I had to go through interviews, and medicals, and fitness tests."

The only down side is working away from fiance Matthew Taylor, who's based in St Annes, although his being a dog warden means he understands. "He's gone through it all with me. He's been very supportive," she said.

A spokesman for the programme makers said: "This new television series uncovers for the first time the rigorous training process that RSPCA trainees must undergo."

The series starts on Animal Planet on January 23 at 8pm.