More than 50,000 people including top record labels and DJs have signed a petition in less than 24 hours to "save" iconic nightclub Fabric.

Last Monday, it was revealed the venue will be shut for four weeks while Islington Council reviews its licence, which was suspended after two drug-related deaths.

Police launched an investigation after the two 18-year-olds died in separate incidents in the space of weeks. The club has since announced a review of security.

But more than 50,000 people have so far shown their support by signing an online petition set up by resident DJ and promoter at the Farringdon club, Jacob Hansen.

The petition – called “Save London’s nightlife. Stop the closure of Fabric” – was set up on Wednesday night and by the following morning, just 13 hours later, it had hit its original target of 35,000.

Mr Hansen, whose DJ name is Jacob Husley, told the Standard: "I'm overwhelmed by the positive response, but not surprised.

"There is so much love for Fabric in the UK and across the globe, it shows how important and respected it is, and this is just the beginning.

"Today is very manic, with a lot of emails but I'm also enjoying it because it feels like everyone is coming together to send a strong message. Every signature and share helps no matter who it is."

Top DJs and musicians including Groove Armada, DJ Zinc, Rob da Bank and Fatboy Slim have tweeted their support as well as labels Island Records and Virgin EMI Records.

Scotland Yard initially asked to temporarily suspend the iconic venue’s licence after two young men died, pending a review by Islington council to decide its long term future.

It followed the news an 18-year-old had died in hospital after falling ill at the club at 2am on June 25.

Another 18-year-old collapsed outside the 2,500-capacity club on August 6 at 8.20am, dying 40 minutes later in hospital.

Cameron Leslie, co-founder of Fabric, told the Standard today: "The safety of our customers is always our first priority and we are deeply saddened by the recent, tragic events.

“We have always worked with the police and the London Borough of Islington to adopt the most effective techniques to reduce drug-related harm and crime and we are currently independently reviewing all our processes to improve them further.

“After 17 years at the forefront of the UK dance music scene, fabric is incredibly grateful for all the support it has received from all over the world resulting in almost 50,000 people signing the petition. It means so much to us that so many people continue to see fabric as a key part of London’s world class nightlife and a significant contributor to its night time economy.

“We hope the decision on September 6 will mean that fabric can continue to operate as a destination for music fans as well as a safe and well managed venue.”

In a statement on August 23, the nightclub management said they were carrying out a review of the “lessons we can learn”.

"Since we opened our doors in 1999, we have always worked closely with the police and the licensing authority in adopting the most effective known techniques to reduce harm and prevent drug-related crime on our premises and we continue to look at new ways we can improve our processes.”

The venue said it has a zero tolerance to drugs and a system in place with the police to log and hand over confiscated drugs.

“We recognise that illegal drugs are a particular issue in the clubbing sphere which many venues like ours have challenges in addressing,” the statement said.

The club said it is "reviewing procedures" and hopes to work with the police and council to stay open.

Fabric itself is supporting the petition, which is set to be delivered to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Islington council.

Jacob Hansen, the petition creator, wrote on the Change.org page that closing the club would be an “incredibly short-sighted response” to the complex problem of drug use.

He said: "[Fabric] is like a big family. This is the ethos that’s at the core of club culture and Fabric’s operations.

"Fabric do their best to keep their customers safe and protect them from drugs and adopt a zero drugs policy.

“Closing a venue such as Fabric would be an incredibly short-sighted response to a complex problem.

“Let’s all come together to ask Sadiq Khan, our new Mayor of London, who won our support on his pledges to save London’s Night Time Economy and Islington Borough council, to support our campaign.

“Let’s ask them to back Fabric’s future and the rest of our city’s clubs as icons of London’s incredible music scene and pledge to work together with him to make our clubs safer while also protecting our night time economy.”

Commenting on the petition, Jonathan Pigrem said: "London once had a world class club scene. How much more culture must we lose to bankers and developers."

Another supporter, Michael Fitzpatrick, called Fabric "the most important club in London". He said: "They have an amazing team which is one of the most professional I've ever encountered working within music and night life industries."

Fabric’s licence will be reviewed by the council on September 6.

In a statement last week, Islington council said: "After two recent drug-related deaths, the Metropolitan Police applied for an interim suspension of Fabric’s licence.

“Fabric agreed not to contest this application, and a licensing sub-committee has today suspended Fabric’s licence. This will be followed by a review of Fabric’s licence within 28 days.”