Michael Jackson will be buried on his birthday, according to his father, Joseph.

The 81-year-old told the New York Daily News plans had been finalised in recent days for the ceremony to take place at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles on August 29.

Joseph's claims follow reports that Jackson's body was moved from the cemetery last week at the request of his mother, Katherine.

The 79-year-old apparently asked for her son's body to be stored in a “cold room” over concerns it was at risk of being stolen.

A source told the New York Post: “[Katherine] cries and says that she’s sorry and that she loves him.”

Jackson was given a public memorial service on July 7, less than two weeks after his death.

But the star's burial has been hit by a delay in the return of toxicology tests, which have now been completed.

Meanwhile, Joseph played down his daughter La Toya's claims that plans were in place to move the singer's former Neverland home from California to Las Vegas

"How would they do that?" he said.

(by Jason Gregory)