Jackson Possessions Raise $1m At Auction

An auction of Michael Jackson's most personal possessions has raised almost $1m.

Items up for sale at the auction in Beverly Hills, California, included elaborate furnishings and ornaments from the singer's rented Los Angeles mansion, where he died in June 2009.

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A cabinet with an attached mirror, on which Jackson scrawled words to motivate him for concert training, was one of the prized lots, fetching $25,750 (£16,037).

A blackboard with an "I (heart) Daddy" message from Jackson's daughter Paris raised $5,000 (£3,207) - far above its estimate of just £250-£400.

One item which did not go up for sale was the bed on which Jackson died, held back at the wishes of his family.

However the rug that had been beneath the bed sold for $15,360 (£9,853)

In total, more than 500 lots were up for sale, and all were displayed to potential buyers in a recreation of Jackson's famous ranch.

Fans of the singer turned the outside of the auction house into a temporary shrine, complete with Christmas tree.

Jamie Khawaja said she hoped others would feel the presence of the star and "be embraced by his spirit.

"Especially during the holidays, it is all about love and friendship and coming together and that is what he was all about so we did all this for him and we had a great time doing it."