Michael Jackson's body will be driven to his Neverland Valley Ranch in central California as early as Thursday with public viewing being set for later this week, according to media reports on Tuesday.

A motorcade of as many as 30 cars is expected to accompany Jackson's body to his ranch, which is located near the town of Los Olivos, north of Santa Barbara, according to reports by TV network CNN and celebrity website TMZ.com, citing police officials.

Entertainment news website E! News cited a Santa Barbara Sheriff's department spokesman as saying meetings were now taking place with the California Highway Patrol to discuss security for the trip from the Jackson family home in Los Angeles to Neverland Valley.

A spokesman for the Santa Barbara County's sheriff's office was not immediately available to comment, nor were representatives for Jackson's family.

Pop superstar Jackson, whose hits include "Thriller" and "Billie Jean" died suddenly of cardiac arrest last Thursday.

Jackson's birthplace of Gary, Indiana, also is planning a memorial service for the deceased singer on July 10, according to a spokeswoman for the Gary mayor's office.

Lalosa Burns, spokeswoman for Gary Mayor Rudy Clay, said the memorial service would take place at US Steel Works sports stadium, and that more details would follow. She did not have any information about the service being planned in California.

(Reuters July 1, 2009)