One Direction's new album 'Midnight Memories' is expected to become the UK's quickest selling record of the year so far.

The lads released their third studio effort on Monday (November 25) and the Official Charts Company's midweek update has confirmed that it is currently placed at No.1.

It has sold 145,000 copies in its first three days on sale, meaning that it should topple Daft Punk's 'Random Access Memories' in the fastest selling album of the year stakes. Their effort shifted 165,000 units in its first week.

'Midnight Memories' is outselling the No.2 record - Gary Barlow's new entry 'Since I Saw You Last' - by nearly three to one and is shifting more than the rest of the top five combined.

At No.3 in the midweek album update meanwhile is last week's No.1, Robbie Williams' 'Swings Both Ways'.

Following at No.4 is Olly Murs' 'Right Place Right Time', which has shot up the chart by 92 places as a result of its re-issue.

Boyzone - who recently admitted that One Direction would probably beat them in the charts - are at No.5 with their new entry 'BZ20'.