James Arthur ahead of Hillsborough in Christmas Number 1 race!

James Arthur’s Impossible is officially leading an incredibly tight race to the 2012 Christmas Number 1, ahead of bookies’ favourite and Hillsborough tribute The Justice Collective’s He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.

According to this morning’s Official Charts Company sales data, the X Factor winner’s track had sold nearly 76,000 copies this week, and is just over 3,000 copies ahead of The Justice Collective’s cover of The Hollies' 1969 classic.

Comments the Official Charts Company’s Managing Director, Martin Talbot:

“While James Arthur has an early lead over The Justice Collective after just two days of sales, it is exceptionally tight – especially with Christmas gift purchases likely to impact on both releases as the week progresses. It looks like being an extremely exciting race for this year’s Official Christmas Number 1.”

James Arthur’s Impossible became the fastest selling single of 2012 and debuted at Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart on Sunday (December 16) with sales of over 490,000 copies. While The Justice Collective’s track features an all-star cast including Sir Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Paloma Faith, Melanie C, Holly Johnson, Shane MacGowan, The Farm’s Peter Hooton, and Gerry And The Pacemakers’ Gerry Marsden, to name but a few.

Both releases are donating their proceeds to charity with Arthur’s single raising money for children’s charity Together For Short Lives, and The Justice Collective are raising money for the ongoing legal costs of the families of the Hillsborough tragedy.

We will be bringing you the very latest updates right here on www.officialcharts.com daily throughout this week. Make sure you’re following Official Charts on Facebook and Twitter.

The Official Christmas Number 1 will be revealed on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart Show with Reggie Yates and on www.officialcharts.com this Sunday (December 23).