George wanted to keep his death a private matter, just like his life

Kripa Moya Das Krishna devotee

At the Top of the Pops Awards in the UK on Friday, rock band Travis performed a version of Harrison's Here Comes The Sun.

Sir Paul McCartney sent a statement to the awards ceremony dedicating his lifetime achievement award to "my brother George" after pulling out of the show.

Harrison, who was 58, died on Thursday at a friend's Los Angeles home after a long battle with lung cancer.

He was cremated at a private ceremony on Friday, according to one news agency.

His ashes will be scattered over a holy river, possibly in northern India or Hawaii, a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness said.

Harrison donated a temple to the Hare Krishna

The River Yamuna in India runs through Harrison's favourite spiritual retreat, Kripa Moya Das told the INS agency.

"He would stay there for several days at a time," he said.

"It was a place he could worship with peace of mind for no-one knew who he was in India.

"George wanted to keep his death a private matter, just like his life."

His ashes were likely to be scattered over the weekend, with members of his family and friends present, he said.

New York's Strawberry Fields has become a shrine

Two of Harrison's oldest friends from the Krishna faith said they had been chanting and praying by the star's side as he died.

"During his last days, Krishna devotees were by his side and he left his body to the sounds of the Hare Krishna Mantra," a statement from the pair, Shyamasundar Das and Mukunda Goswami, said.

Authorities in his home town of Liverpool are currently planning a memorial service and are deciding on what form a permanent memorial should take.

"There have already been a number of suggestions made - a statue, a building named after him, or something in the horticultural line because George was a great gardener," councillor Flo Clucas said.

The town hall's book of condolence now has more than 1,000 signatures.

The flag at Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame flies at half mast

Fans have also been rushing to buy the former Beatle's music, and two solo albums have shot into the top three of internet retailer Amazon's sales chart.

Radio stations across the United States cleared their schedules to play old hits as a tribute to the "quiet Beatle".

At Friday's Top of the Pops Awards, which took place in front of 12,000 young pop fans in Manchester, host Jamie Theakston read a statement from Sir Paul, who had been due to perform his single Freedom.

"It was a great honour to receive this Top Of The Pops award but because of the sad news I can't be here tonight to accept it," it said.

"I would like to dedicate this award with love to my brother George, without whom it would not have been possible."

Floral tributes have built up outside Abbey Road studios

Tom Jones, Westlife member Bryan McFadden and Irish singer Samantha Mumba were among the other stars to pay tribute to Harrison.

"It is a sad loss. He was a lovely man and he will be missed," said Jones.

Beatles fans have continued to leave flowers, cards and candles at makeshift shrines in Liverpool, London, New York and Los Angeles.

Floral tributes have built up outside the legendary Abbey Road studios in north London and Harrison's home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Tributes are also being left in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, fans have congregated at Harrison's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, while an area of New York's Central Park known as Strawberry Fields has been the site of impromptu concerts and a vigil.

Bangladeshi politicians and artists have thanked the musician for raising money and awareness about their independence struggle when he organised one of the first rock benefit concerts in 1971.

The country's newspapers described him as a "co-freedom fighter" and a "friend in bad times".