Young dancers unwittingly performed a tribute to Michael Jackson on the evening he was dying.

Children and teenagers in the Community Dance Show in Ashford’s North School carried out the routine, by shocking coincidence as the singer was fighting for his life.

News of his sudden illness and death had not reached Britain until later that night.

Organiser Melanie Hulf said: "He was dying it as we were doing it and we had no idea.

"We were all extremely shocked when we heard the news afterwards. Most of us only knew next morning, although a few heard later that night.

"The youngsters were stunned to think they had being doing a tribute to him as that was happening."

The dancers had performed the smash hit Thriller on last Thursday in a show running from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Paramedics had been called to Jackson’s Los Angeles home at 12.21pm local time (7.21 GMT) and he was pronounced dead in hospital at 2.26pm (9.26pm GMT).

News of the superstar being mortally ill, only began reaching British homes after 10pm and confirmation of his death came shortly before midnight.

The pupils had performed the North School Dance Show 2009 on June 24 and 25.

A total 50 children from the school performed along with youngsters from Ashford North Youth Centre, Willesborough Junior School and Hamstreet, Charing and Pluckley Primary Schools.

The show had a Pick of the Pops theme with the performances to a string of number one hits in pop history.

Music came from other acts such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Abba, the Spice Girls, Queen, The Beatles, Oasis and Take That.

The show was organised by the Mid Kent and Ashford School Sport Partnership.