Families arrived in droves to see the act on Saturday, the appeal of which clearly crossed the generation divide, with toddlers and grandparents alike tapping their feet and singing along to Michael Jackson's greatest hits.

The act had already been scheduled months ago, and manager of the shopping centre Kevin Legg said it had to be moved outside and a stage promptly set up to allow more space as there was no way of predicting how many fans would come to show their appreciation of the pop star after news of his death broke.

Mr Legg said: "It was just fate that we booked Navi before Michael Jackson's tour started, and the recent events just changed it totally from a small community event where about 200 people turned up -– and whoever happened to be shopping – into this.

"In a very short amount of time we have turned this around for the people of Northampton. I would like to join the many people in expressing my condolences to Michael Jackson's family and friends."

The act was preceded by a minute's silence where everyone bowed their heads to think about the star, before Navi performed all his greatest hits, including Thriller, Billie Jean, Bad and Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', including all the classic Michael Jackson dance moves.

The singer even got fans up on stage to demonstrate their own dance moves, some of whom had a go at the moonwalk.

Mum-of-three Lisa Drew, aged 27, of Thorplands, Northampton, said: "He's really good. I'm a big Michael Jackson fan, I was devastated to hear he had died. I was listening to his top 40 hits and every one of them is a really good tune.

"Navi's singing isn't quite as good but everything else is fantastic."

Fan Sally Taylor, aged 43, of Spinney Hill, Northampton, was also at the gig with her daughters Amy, aged 16, and Hannah, 14.

She said: "He is absolutely brilliant. It's weird that we were going to come anyway and then a few days before, he died.

"We love Michael Jackson, I grew up in the 80s and my daughters grew up listening to him too."