Heartbroken fans from across the city paid tribute to Michael Jackson as news of his sudden death sent shockwaves around the world.

Many woke up to hear the news that the King of Pop had died after a suspected heart attack at his Holmby Hills home in Los Angeles.

The 50-year-old star was taken to the UCLA hospital where staff tried for an hour to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at 10.26pm (BST).

His death comes just weeks before he was due to start his 50-date run at London's O2 Arena and amid the sadness yesterday were concerns the stress of the marathon event had been too much for the singer.

ITV West newsman Jed Pitman produced a documentary on the singer's legendary album Thriller to coincide with the 25th anniversary of its release.

He said: " It was the biggest selling album of all time and the documentary was about how it became such a phenomenon.

" Jackson effectively made MTV, he was the first successful artist on there."

Mr Pitman said it was a team of amazing engineers, writers and producers that helped create the album which Jackson, with his performance and character, catapulted into the stratosphere. Yesterday he said he was shocked to hear the news.

He said: "I'd heard lots of stories of him being ill. A few weeks ago when the first two concerts were postponed I thought the whole tour was never going to happen.

"Hopefully in the next few weeks it will be the music that people are taking about and not his personal life and problems. Thriller was, in my opinion, one of the greatest albums ever made. Everyone owned a copy.

"There are a lot of memories because of that album and people will ask where were you when you heard the news?"

Sarah Clayman, director of Bristol Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) worked with Michael Jackson on his BAD tour. She said: "I was privileged to work with Michael at the height of his career on the BAD tour in 1988. This sudden loss means the chance to put his career and his music first has now gone. The BIMM team holds his music in the highest esteem and plan to maintain his musical legacy."

As Glastonbury was gearing up for its first full day, the news made its way around the festival site, causing shock and disbelief.

Festival organisers have not planned an official tribute to the singer but a series of impromptu tributes and cover songs are expected by bands throughout the weekend.

Festival organiser Emily Eavis, writing on the social networking site Twitter, called Jackson a "truly great artist".

She said: "So sad to hear the news about MJ. There will be tributes all over the site all weekend. A truly great artist. Emily.''

Jackson's death brings a tragic conclusion to a long and bizarre decline from his commercial peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer.

Known for crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched notes, his single sequinned glove, tight, military-style jacket and Aviator sunglasses were trademarks second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.

Over the years, his image changed from cute child star to that of a secretive singer who was the target of ridicule and devotion in equal measure.

The release of Thriller in 1982 made him a massive international superstar and the first cracks in his public persona began appearing not long afterwards.

While filming a Pepsi advertisement in 1984, an explosion set his hair on fire and he was stretchered from the studio.

Around the same time, wild stories about his personal life began to circulate, including that he slept in an oxygen tent and had adopted a chimp called Bubbles.

Soon the tabloids were dubbing him 'Wacko Jacko' and he retreated to his Neverland ranch, complete with its own zoo and funfair.

The video for his single Bad in 1987, which saw the star with distinctly lighter skin, led to rumours he had undergone plastic surgery and skin bleaching.

Four years later, he admitted to talkshow host Oprah Winfrey he had had plastic surgery but insisted his changing skin tone was the result of a "disorder that destroys the pigmentation of my skin".

In 2002, he was criticised when he dangled his 11-month- old son Prince Michael II from the window of a Berlin hotel in front of an astounded crowd.

The same year he made an appearance before disbelieving fans of the English third division football club Exeter City with friend and Exeter City fan Uri Geller.

In March this year he unveiled a string of dates in London.

In what would prove to be his last public appearance in the UK, he put on a bizarre display that left journalists baffled.

When he finally appeared he repeatedly walked away from the microphone before saying: "Thank you all. This is it. I just want to say these will be my final shows, performances in London. This will be it.

"When I say this is it, I really mean this is it."

During a speech littered with long pauses, Jackson said: "I'll be performing the songs my fans want to hear.

"This is the final curtain call, okay, and I'll see you in July."

The shows, scheduled to begin on July 8, were heralded as the first step in an unlikely career renaissance that would ultimately encompass a three- year world tour, a new album, movies, a Graceland-like museum, musical revues in Las Vegas and Macau, and even a "Thriller" casino. It would wipe out his massive debts, variously estimated at between $60m and $200m, and allow him to retire in comfort.

Tim Minett, assistant manager at Broadmead's HMV store, said lots of people have been buying Jackson's albums yesterday.

He said: "We have been playing his songs all day - as a bit of a tribute.

"We have had so many people coming in to buy his music that we think he could have a number one album next week. The most popular CD here is his Number Ones album - it was on sale anyway, so copies of that have been flying out the door.

"People seem to feel that emotional attachment to him and the way they are dealing with it is by buying his music.

"We find that this happens whenever a great icon dies."