Michael Jackson's face has sensationally appeared on a tree stump in Stockton, California – or so the barking mad locals would have you believe.

Resident Felix Garcia was walking past the tree just days after the King of Pop's sudden death when he noticed the mysterious apparition.

He said: "I was standing by that bush, and I looked up and saw that image here. I walked up to it, and I said, man, this looks like Michael Jackson."

Since his 'sighting', the tree has become a hotspot with neighbours and tourists convening to take a look at Jackson.

Garcia continued that the image resembles Jackson in his early twenties heyday.

"I just hope it lasts a long time. I hope to take some pictures of it and blow them up because there are a lot of people who loved him," he added.

Michael Jackson's face appears on tree stump: