NHS urges British public to help them beat Justin Bieber in chart battle

There's a very close race for the UK's Christmas No.1 today as the NHS Choir are just a handful of sales behind Justin Bieber's 'Love Yourself', which is currently in the lead.

The result will be officially announced on Friday, December 25 and NHS communications manager Joe Blunden has urged the British public to get behind the National Health Service as a chart-topper for them would be an incredible achievement:

Blunden told the Press Association: "I was a Bieber fan until this week. Cut out your Bieber fever just for this week and get behind the NHS. After Christmas you can get back to downloading and streaming Bieber... Put the NHS number in the charts (sic), and also number one on the agenda."

The NHS Choir's 'A Bridge Over You' is being sold to raise money for health charities across the UK and Martin Talbot, Chief Executive, Official Charts Company, explained: “As well as climaxing on Christmas Day for just the fourth time in history, this year’s race for the festive Number 1 is looking like one of the closest ever. With just two days to go, it really is too close to call – possibly the most exciting battle since Joe McElderry took on Rage Against The Machine in 1999.”

Watch the NHS Choir performing the single here: