Jacko's Neverland cuts

Music

13:30 21 March 2006

Michael Jackson has shut part of his Neverland ranch and fired many of his workers.

The troubled singer was recently forced to pay employees at the Californian ranch $306,000 in outstanding wages after they worked unpaid for three months.

However, according to a statement from his spokesperson Raymone Bain, the star has now decided to close the house of the ranch and "reduce his work force."

A long-term staffer told website FoxNews.com: "It's unbelievable. We got nothing for the pain of what just happened and nothing to see us through.

Some of the people here are close to retirement age and they have nothing to retire on."

Sources close to the 'Bad' singer insist Neverland's demise is not linked to his much rumoured financial problems.

Bain claims the house has only been closed because Jackson has moved to Bahrain.

She said: "This is a common practice when a residence is vacant for an extended period of time."

(C) BANG Media International