Cardle tops chart despite campaigns

The debut single by The X Factor winner Matt Cardle has fought off fierce competition from various internet campaigns to claim the Christmas No 1 spot.

The 27-year-old left the anti-Simon Cowell camp disappointed after his cover of the Biffy Clyro song "Many of Horror" sold 439,000 copies in six days following his victory on the ITV show last Sunday.

While this year saw several contenders battle to keep Cowell's act off the festive top spot, only 1960s act The Trashmen came close. Their song "Surfin' Bird" made it to No 3, selling 70,000 copies after a Facebook campaign.

Another contender, Cage Against The Machine's charity version of the silent "4'33" by composer John Cage, lagged far behind Cardle, coming in at No 21.