Lady Gaga buys Jackson costumes

Michael Jackson Dangerous tour jacket This jacket from the Dangerous tour sold for $216,000 (134,000)

Lady Gaga has bought 55 items at an auction of Michael Jackson costumes in Los Angeles.

She tweeted that the clothes would be "archived & expertly cared for in the spirit & love of Michael Jackson, his bravery, & fans worldwide".

The auction included a jacket worn during Jackson's Bad tour, that went for $240,000 (148,000) and two crystal gloves.

The items were all made by designers Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush.

Lady Gaga also tweeted a picture of herself and her bidding paddle at the auction.

More than $5m (3.1m) was raised by the sale, according to LA-based Julien's Auctions.

Michael Jackson right-handed glove covered in crystals This hand-sewn crystal glove sold for $115,000 (71,000)

Other items that went under the hammer included jackets from Michael Jackson's Dangerous and Thriller tours and a pair of jeans that went for $50,000 (31,000).

Some of the money raised by the auction is being donated to a guide dogs charity and a hospice in Las Vegas.

American costume designers Michael Bush and Dennis Tompkins created thousands of original pieces for Michael Jackson during his career.

However, despite Lady Gaga's assurances, some fans expressed their anger online, claiming that Jackson wanted his costumes to end up in a museum.

The singer died on 25 June 2009 from an overdose of the powerful anaesthetic propofol.

His personal doctor, Conrad Murray, was later found guilty of his involuntary ! manslaughter and sentenced to four years in jail.