Ed Sheeran tops album chart for fifth consecutive week with X

The singer has achieved the longest run at number one since Adele's 21

Ed Sheeran has achieved his fifth week at number one in the album charts with his new record X.

The Suffolk born singer-songwriter has sold over 400,000 copies of his new album in the UK, achieving the longest consecutive run at number one since Adele’s 21 in January 2011.

But Sheeran still has a way to go to beat the “Skyfall” singer, who spent 11 consecutive weeks at number one with her second acclaimed album.

The 24-year-old has claimed the longest consecutive chart-topping run for a British male solo act since James Blunt’s Back to Bedlam topped the album chart for eight consecutive weeks in the summer of 2005.

Sheeran’s debut album, + ,has also re-entered the Top 40 this week at number 15.

Elsewhere in the Official Albums Chart, La Roux debuts at number six with her second studio album Trouble in Paradise.

Dolly Parton climbs one spot to number two following her Glastonbury performance with new album Blue Smoke – The Best Of and Sam Smith’s In The Lonely Hour also goes up one place to number three.

In the singles chart, Cheryl Cole claimed her fourth solo UK number one with “Crazy Stupid Love.”