The Justice Collective have topped the UK single charts with their rendition of ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother‘ for charity, crowning them as this year’s Christmas No.1.

The single fought off stiff competition from X-Factor winner James Arthur, winning by a margin of around 45,000 copies, selling over 269,000 in all.

The single was released to help raise legal fees for families of the victims of the the 96 people killed in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

The news caps a memorable week for all involved in the Hillsborough campaign. On Wednesday it was announced that a new investigation would be launched into the tragedy, and on the same day the High Court dismissed the accidental death verdicts originally recorded.

Fresh inquests will now be heard with the Government also funding legal fees for the families, while VAT on the single will also be waived.

Steve Rotheram, MP for Liverpool Walton who backed the campaign told reporters: “We have done in nine weeks what it normally takes nine months or more to achieve, working with a phenomenally dedicated team all of whom have worked for free.”

The Justice Collective consisted of stars such as Sir Paul McCartney, Mel C of the Spice Girls, Robbie s and former X-Factor contestant Rebecca Ferguson.