The refund system for Michael Jackson's ill-fated comeback gigs in London opened today amid anger from some of the star's fans.

The system, orchestrated by promoter AEG Live, allows people to either request a full refund or opt to receive their tickets as a souvenir, as long as they forgo their right to their money back.

The £75 or £50 tickets, which feature a series of lenticular images, are expected to increase in value over time following Jackson's death last week.

But the refund policy has been criticised by fans in an online petition.

The campaign calls for AEG to offer people the chance request their tickets – but for a price that is “reasonably lower”.

It is “disrespectful” of the promoter “to charge such an extortionate amount of money for a keepsake ticket”, the petition claims.

More than 500 people had signed the petition when this story went to press, with one supporter calling the policy “disgusting and vile”.

AEG said yesterday that the two options had been developed after a number of fans expressed a desire to keep their tickets as a memento.

800,000 people bought tickets to the gigs at London's O2 Arena, which were due to begin on July 13.

(by Jason Gregory)