Ed Sheeran sees off the competition once more as 'X' spends a fifth week at No.1 on the Official Albums Chart having sold over 400,000 copies in the UK to date.

Holding on to the top spot for a fifth week, 'X' this week earns the title of longest consecutively running No.1 album since Adele’s 21 topped the chart back in January 2011. '21' spent a staggering 11 consecutive weeks at No.1 and returned to the top spot on several occasions earning a total of 23 weeks at No.1.

Furthermore, 'X' delivers the longest consecutive chart-topping run for a British male solo act since James Blunt’s 'Back To Bedlam' topped the chart for eight consecutive weeks in summer 2005. Both 'Back To Bedlam' and Adele's '21' have since gone on to become two of the best selling albums of all time in the UK.

At No.2 today is Dolly Parton’s 'Blue Smoke – The Best Of', followed by Sam Smith’s 'In The Lonely Hour' (No.3) and George Ezra’s 'Wanted On Voyage' (No.4), all of which climb one place. Rounding out today’s Top 5 is Coldplay’s 'Ghost Stories', up three places to No.5.

There are five new entries in today’s Official Albums Chart Top 40, kicking off with La Roux, who debuts at No.6 with her second studio album 'Trouble In Paradise'.

Veteran singer/songwriter Richard Thomas enters the chart at No.16 with his first acoustic album, 'Acoustic Classics', while progressive rockers Yes’ 'Heaven & Earth' moves in at No.20.

Scottish singer/songwriter King Creosote scores his first Top 40 album with 'From Scotland With Love' (No.21) as fellow countrymen, Biffy Clyro enter at No.28 with B-sides album, 'Similarities'.

There are also four re-entries in today’s Top 40, including reigning chart king Ed Sheeran’s studio debut '+', which is at No.15.

After releasing details of his upcoming second studio album earlier this week, Avicii’s 'True' re-enters the chart at No.33, while the late Whitney Houston’s 2007 greatest hits compilation, 'The Ultimate Collection' is at No.36.

Calvin Harris’ 2012 release, '18 Months', is at No.37 today; the Scottish DJ/producer was confirmed for this year’s iTunes Festival earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Lana Del Rey’s 'Born To Die' climbs an impressive 17 places to No.22 and, following the release of the video for their new single 'Come Over' FT Stylo G, Clean Bandit’s debut, 'New Eyes' (No.26) climbs 14 places.

British electronic pop trio London Grammar’s 'If You Wait' (No.14) is up 13 places while The Beautiful South’s Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott’s 'What Have We Become' (No.17) and Disclosure’s 'Settle' (No.27) both ascend 11 places.

Watch Ed Sheeran sing a cover version of 5SOS's 'She Looks So Perfect' and perform 'Thinking Out Loud, as well as fan footage of La Roux performing 'Uptight Downtown' below: