Campaigners have welcomed a new documentary containing claims of sexual abuse by Michael Jackson as an opportunity to challenge the leniency shown towards celebrities in cases of child sex abuse.

Leaving Neverland, which aired at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday amid protests from angry fans of the singer, contains the testimonies of Wade Robson and James Safechuck who claim they were molested by the singer.

Both Mr Robson and Mr Safechuck, who were regularly pictured accompanying Mr Jackson on public outings in the 1990s, claim they were befriended by the star before being sexually abused by him.

In the documentary, Mr Robson claims he first met the singer as a prize for winning a local dance contest. He was later invited to stay at Neverland with his family before spending five days alone with Jackson at the ranch.

In a story containing many parallels, Mr Safechuck tells how he met Mr Jackson when he appeared alongside him in a Pepsi advert at the age of eight, before accompanying the singer on tour where he shared a hotel room with him.