Christmas Number One: Justin Bieber tweets support for NHS choir as chart race hots up

The race for number one is going right down to the wire, after a surge takes the NHS choir to within touching distance of Justin Bieber.

The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir's charity single ' A Bridge Over You' has closed the gap to just 662 combined sales behind Bieber's 'Love Yourself,' according to figures from Officialcharts.com.

Despite the commercial importance of the top chart spot at Christmas, the Canadian pop star has tweeted his support to the group, urging fans to buy the choir's single instead of his own offering.

Read more: Top UK Christmas Number One battles

"So for 1 week it's ok not to be #1. " He said on Twitter. "Let's do the right thing & help them win. It's Christmas. @Choir_NHS good luck."

The NHS Choir have praised Bieber's Christmas spirit, calling the singer a gentleman for his efforts.

Martin Talbot, Chief Executive of the Official Charts Company, told ITV News that "everybody wins" with Bieber's social media appeal.

"If he hands over the Christmas number one to the NHS Choir and they end up winning, then everybody is a winner, " Mr Talbot said.

"He's seen to be the charitable Justin Bieber and they (the NHS Choir) win the race at the end of the day."

All proceeds from 'A Bridge Over You' will be shared between healthcare charities, including Carers UK and Mind - with a percentage also being distributed to Samh (Scotland) and Niamh (Northern Ireland).