Ed Sheeran's 'Thinking Out Loud' has topped the Official Singles Chart after a mammoth 19 weeks in the Top 40, becoming the song with the longest climb from entering the Top 40 to the Number 1 spot in history.

This isn’t the first Official Chart record this year for Sheeran, who has just finished playing to over 290,000 people on his recent UK tour. The singer/songwriter’s second studio album 'X' is also the current fastest-selling and longest-running No.1 album of 2014.

'Thinking Out Loud' is Sheeran’s second No.1 in six months, having scored his first ever chart topper back in June with Sing.

Sheeran tells OfficialCharts.com: "I’m not used to having No.1 singles and this is my favourite song on the album, my favourite song I’ve written, so I’m really proud it’s getting this recognition."

Bucking the trend of No.1s in recent years - which often top the chart on their first week of release, following a focused blaze of promotion and pre-orders, before trickling down the chart - 'Thinking Out Loud' first entered the Top 40 upon the release of Sheeran’s second studio album 'X' back in June. Since then, the track has climbed steadily, finally entering the Top 10 three weeks ago.

The record for the longest ascent to No.1 was previously held by Celine Dion, whose 1994 single 'Think Twice' took 13 weeks to reach No.1 after entering the Top 40. Other acts with lengthy journeys to the No.1 spot from entering the Top 40 include Louis Armstrong’s 'What A Wonderful World' (11 weeks in 1968), Lady Gaga’s 'Poker Face' (10 weeks in 2009) and Coldplay’s 'Paradise' (10 weeks in 2011/12).

Racking up a combined chart sales figure of over 89,000 this week, 'Thinking Out Loud' has now sold over 356,000 copies and has been streamed on audio streaming services nearly 14,000,000 times to date.

Breaking the one million audio streams barrier for a third week in a row, 'Thinking Out Loud' also claims the title of this week’s most streamed track, having been listened to nearly 1.6 million times in the last seven days.

Five other tracks have also been streamed over a million times this week; Taylor Swift’s 'Shake It Off' (1.4m), Meghan Trainor’s 'All About That Bass' (1.3m), Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj’s 'Bang Bang' (1.1m), Calvin Harris’ 'Blame' FT John Newman (1m) and Sam Smith’s 'I’m Not The Only One' (1m).

There are three new entries in today’s Official Singles Chart Top 40. German producer Parra For Cuva scores this week’s highest new entry with reworking of Chris Isaak’s 1990 hit 'Wicked Game', Wicked Games FT Anna Naklab (6). Calvin Harris is new at 23 today with 'Open Wide' FT Big Sean, the latest track to be lifted from Calvin’s upcoming fourth studio album 'Motion'.

Following their performance on The X Factor last weekend, OneRepublic’s I Lived reaches a new peak at 29, while 'Love Runs Out' re-enters the Top 40 at 38.

Finally, Idina Menzel’s 'Let It Go' climbs 18 places to No.36, following a performance of the track by The X Factor contestant Lauren Platt on the show last week.

Watch the official video for 'Thinking Out Loud' below: