UK pharmacists have said they would have refused to dispense the combination of drugs allegedly prescribed to Michael Jackson on the grounds of safety.

Four in ten pharmacists said they would not supply the mix of painkillers and antidepressants allegedly taken by the star when he died.

The remaining respondents to the straw poll carried out by C+D said they would seek safety assurances from a GP before dispensing.

The Daily Mail newspaper reported that Mr Jackson took a daily cocktail of drugs including Pethidine, hydroxyzine, morphine, alprazolam, sertraline, methylphenidate, fluoxetine, omeprazole.

One respondent told C+D he would only supply such a combination to a terminally ill patient.