Fans of Sir Cliff Richard have launched a campaign to get his song I Still Believe In You to No 1 to show their support.
They are using Twitter and Facebook to urge other followers of the singer to download the love ballad to demonstrate they do not believe the allegations against him.
Sir Cliff’s fans will buy the song, which originally reached No 7 in 1992, until Saturday with the aim of propelling it into this weekend’s charts.
Sue Dungworth, who runs the Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire Cliff Richard fan club, said: “If we can get it high in the charts, it will reinforce the fact his real fans are behind him — and be a statement to the rest of the country and even the world.”
Jenny Walker, 64, from Exmouth, Devon, said: “What he must be going through is awful. He’s a wonderful entertainer and a lovely man.”
Meanwhile, there are concerns the singer might be forced to miss his annual trip to the US for the Open Tennis after allegations of sexual assault.
“You would be mad to try to get on a plane if you had a child abuse inquiry hanging over you,” a source was quoted by The Sun newspaper as saying.
However, people who have been questioned under caution by police can apply to the US Embassy for special consideration for a visa and will be assessed on an individual basis.
The US Embassy in London said: “We do not comment on individuals.”
Richard has denied the allegations but admits he’s been aware of them for a “while”. He has not been arrested and is yet to be questioned by police.