Haiti charity single tops charts

Susan Boyle sings on the Helping Haiti single. Photo / AP

The Helping Haiti single has hit number one in the UK after selling 450,000 copies in its first week of release.

The track - recorded by a host of top artists including Rod Stewart, Alexandra Burke and Susan Boyle, and helmed by

X Factor

mogul Simon Cowell - has become one of the biggest selling songs of the last decade already, raising a large amount of money for aid relief in the earthquake stricken state.

Alexandra Burke – who flew to Haiti to help the aid effort – said: "It's fantastic the single is at number one and that helping Haiti is on everyone's agenda.

"I've seen where this money will go and that it will really make a difference and help those who need it.

"Thank you to everyone who has bought this single."

Happy

singer Leona Lewis said that the single, a cover of R.E.M. song

Everybody Hurts

, selling so many copies – 453,000 according to official chart figures – was a great achievement, but encouraged people not to stop buying and downloading it.

She said: "I'm so pleased that so many people are supporting this record.

"There are still so many in Haiti that need our help so please keep giving."

All money raised from the single will go directly to helping victims of the earthquakes, after the British government waived VAT on the single and REM said they wouldn't collect writing royalties on the song.

- BANG! SHOWBIZ