Luke Naish, 19, from Wellington, buys copies of Michael Jackson's Off The Wall and Thriller from HMV in Telford Town Centre

Michael Jackson fans across the region helped catapult the late superstar to the top of the album chart as they rushed out to buy his CDs.

Jacko’s sudden death has sparked a massive boom in sales of his back catalogue.

The King of Pop’s greatest hits album, Number Ones, is currently top of the chart.

Four of his other albums – Thriller, King of Pop, Off The Wall and Essential Michael Jackson – have also re-entered the top 20.

HMV reported that sales of the star’s back catalogue were up 80 per cent and staff at the store in Telford Town Centre found themselves regularly restocking the shelves with his music.

Among fans snapping up CDs at HMV in Telford was New College pupil Luke Naish, 19, from Wellington, who purchased both Thriller and Off The Wall.

He said: “I grew up on him and my entire family like him. The songs bring back great memories.”

And purchasing a Jackson compilation from the same store, Karl Watkins, 29, from Telford, said: “I’ve got a couple of his MP3s but it’s just odd songs. With the albums you have got extra songs and the B-sides I have not heard. He was a legend.”

And Jackson’s final recording could also end up in the charts.

Less than 24 hours before he died, Jackson was rehearsing for his London concerts in Los Angeles.

The performance featured his greatest hits and moonwalk dance – and reports said it was captured on high-definition video and multi-track audio, the quality needed for an album.