Mark Lester describes last call to Michael Jackson

Former child star Mark Lester says he was due to spend the summer with Michael Jackson when the King of Pop died.

The star of Oliver! , from Cheltenham, courted international controversy when he claimed to be the father of Jackson's daughter Paris.

Since then the 51-year-old, who works as an osteopath from his home in Fairview, says he has been "snubbed" by the Jackson family.

Opening his heart to the Echo before giving a talk at a fundraising lunch in Gloucestershire yesterday, Mark described the last contact he had with the tragic pop star.

Mark, who is godfather to Jackson's three children, said: "I was in regular contact with Michael, calling him every week. I spoke to him on the Sunday before he died.

"Everything seemed fine. We were planning to spend the summer together and maybe even Christmas.

"Michael was talking about renting a house for us all. As far as I was aware everything was fine.

"If I'd known he had a drug problem then maybe I could have done something."

Mark said in August that he believes he is the biological father of Paris, after he agreed to donate sperm to Jackson 13 years ago.

But the assertion was quickly rejected by the Jackson family's legal team.

Talking about his paternity claims, Mark, who turned his back on the acting profession in his teens, said: "My second wife didn't know about it and nor did my children. You could say it was a bit of a surprise for them. They were both surprised and excited.

"I didn't think I needed to tell anyone before then, as it was just between me and Michael.

"The last time I saw Michael's children was at the memorial service. It's really sad that I can't see them now."

Mark was speaking to the Echo before giving a speech for The Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund.

More than 70 members listened to Mark discuss his life and work at Highnam Court, near Gloucester.

Volunteers also manned several stalls to raise vital cash, selling everything from clocks to cosmetics.

The charity hoped to raise more than £2,000 from the annual fundraiser.

LINC was set up 10 years ago to support patients affected by leukaemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers.

It aims to raise £400,000 to open a haematology department at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

So far they've collected about £100,000.

A spokeswoman for LINC said: "We're very grateful that Mark decided to come and talk about his life.

"As soon as we showed an interest he said he'd love to help as it's a local charity and he lives just down the road from the hospital in Cheltenham."

For details about the charity visit www.lincfund.org.