Haiti earthquake charity single tops charts

A charity single recorded in aid of Haiti earthquake victims has gone straight to number one in the British singles charts, selling more than 450,000 copies in its first week, the Official Charts Company said on Sunday.

Everybody Hurts, organised by TV talent show judge Simon Cowell, notched up the biggest first week sales of any charity single released this century, the company said. 

"The public have clearly taken the plight of the Haitian people to heart -- this record is huge," Martin Talbot, managing director, Official Charts Company, said in a statement.

Starring in the re-recording of the REM track was Cheryl Cole, Kylie Minogue, Leona Lewis, Robbie Williams, Rod Stewart, Susan Boyle and Take That.

Making way was Owl City, an American synthpop musical project by Adam Young, whose record Fireflies dropped to number two. 

American Grammy award-winning rapper Timbaland, whose real name is Timothy Zachery Mosley, remained at number three with If We Ever Meet Again.

There was no change in the albums top three, with Alicia Keys and The Element of Freedom at number one, Dutch violinist Andre Rieu at number two with Forever Vienna and Paolo Nutini at number three with Sunny Side Up.