Hillsborough charity single named Christmas number one

The Justice Collective's version of He Ain't Heavy is the 2012 Christmas number one. Credit: Press Association

The Hillsborough tragedy tribute single has topped the charts to become the 2012 Christmas number one.

The Justice Collective's version of He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother sold more than 269,000 copies, which saw it comfortably outsell X Factor winner James Arthur's debut single Impossible by 45,000, according to figures from the Official Charts Company.

The reworking of the Hollies 1969 hit took the festive top spot to cap a memorable week for campaigners, friends and family of the 96 victims of the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's ground during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989.

A new police investigation into their deaths was announced by Home Secretary Theresa May and the High Court quashed accidental death verdicts recorded by the original inquest into the tragedy at Sheffield Wednesday's ground. A new inquest will now be held.

Sir Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Mel C, Beverley Knight, Rebecca Ferguson, Paloma Faith and Frankie Goes to Hollywood singer Holly Johnson are among the artists who featured on the Justice Collective song.

The Government said last week it would waive VAT on the Justice Collective's charity single, after a campaign. It also announced it will fund legal representation at the new inquest for the families of those who died.

Emeli Sande's Our Version Of Events topped the album chart, and with sales of 1.32 million is the biggest-selling album of the year.

Scream & Shout by Will.I.Am featuring Britney Spears, Stay by Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko and Locked Out Of Heaven by Bruno Mars make up the rest of the festive top five.

East London market trader Muhammad Shahid Nazir, also known as One Pound Fish Man, broke into the top 40 with the strength of his market patter. The video of his One Pound Fish song has been watched more than 6.5 million times on YouTube and charted at 29.

Robbie Williams' Different only reached 64, after the Take That star asked fans to buy the Hillsborough tribute instead of his single when he realised release dates would clash.

Global radio hosts announced that the Hillsborough tribute single hit the Christmas top-spot during its chart show earlier this evening: