A dirty sock once worn by Michael Jackson has raised a staggering £6,600 at an auction in France.

The single crystal-encrusted sock was used by the King of Pop at a concert in Nimes, a city in the south of France, in 1997.

It was found by a technician after the American's performance and has been preserved for 28 years in a frame.

The sock was only expected to fetch between £2,500 to £3,000 at the Nimes auction house, but raked in £6,640 on Wednesday.

It was originally white with glittering rhinestones, but they have yellowed as they have aged.