X Factor Help for Heroes charity single is number one

The X Factor final twelve acts released a single to raise money for the military charity Help For Heroes and the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Fund. Their cover of Mariah Carey’s song Hero was number one in the singles chart on 2nd November.

The track was performed on The X Factor on ITV1 on 25th October, and injured servicemen and women were in the studio audience.

Record bosses said Hero sold 313,244 copies in its first week of release - more than the rest of the top ten singles combined.

Last week, Chancellor Alistair Darling said VAT on sales will be donated to the charities.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would buy his wife Sarah a copy for her birthday.