Jackson closes Neverland home

Mar 17, 2006, 20:47 GMT

Los Angeles - Pop singer Michael Jackson has closed his mansion on his fantasy Neverland Ranch after running into financial difficulties in paying his staff.

A spokesman for the singer told Entertainment Tonight that Jackson had laid off some of the employees. The statement came just hours after Jackson evaded a court-imposed shut down of Neverland Thursday by coming with some 300,000 dollars in unpaid wages for his workers.

'It is public knowledge that Mr. Jackson currently resides in the Middle Eastern country of Bahrain,' Jackson spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain said late Thursday in a statement. 'He therefore decided to close his house and reduce his work force.'

Though the employees who received their back pay were laid off, Neverland continues to operate on at least a limited basis, Bain said.

'Reports indicating that Neverland has been closed or 'shut down' for good are inaccurate,' she said in her statement.

According to Entertainment Tonight, a local vet has taken on responsibility for caring for the animals housed in Jackson's private zoo, while other members of the Jackson family were in charge of security on the sprawling estate.

The move increases the likelihood that the financially-strapped star will sell Neverland to help pay off his debts.

He has been living mostly in Bahrain since his acquittal of child molestation charges in June 2005.