Ed Sheeran's 'x' rockets to No.1 on UK albums chart

Ed Sheeran's new album is on course to top the UK chart this weekend.

The singer-songwriter unleashed his second effort 'x' on Monday (June 23) and the Official Charts Company confirmed today (June 25) that it has shifted almost 100,000 units in the UK so far.

This comfortably places the record at No.1 on the midweek update, with 'x' set to challenge Coldplay's record of the quickest selling album of the year. Their collection 'Ghost Stories' sold 168,000 in its first week of release.

At No.2 on the midweek update meanwhile is Sam Smith's 'In The Lonely Hour', whilst Lana Del Rey's 'Ultraviolence' is No.3.

Completing the top five is the aforementioned 'Ghost Stories' at No.4 and Kasabian's '48:13' at No.5.

US metal act Mastodon are No.7 with their new entry 'One More 'Round The Sun' and Stevie Wonder is No.12 with 'Songs in the Key of Life' as his track 'Another Star' is used for the BBC's World Cup programming.

Watch Ed Sheeran's 'Sing' video below: