X-Factor's Leona takes British Xmas number one

LONDON, Dec 24 (Reuters) Hot-favourite Leona Lewis, who won television talent spotting show ''X Factor'' last week, took the Christmas number one in the British pop charts today.

The 21-year-old's ''A Moment Like This'' stampeded its way to top spot with sales expected to have topped 500,000. Her debut single had already notched up the record for the fastest ever music download in Britain.

Bookmakers William Hill had suspended betting a week ago on who would be top at Christmas as Lewis was such a certainty and said the success of X Factor had put an end to the traditional seasonal pop battle.

''I cannot see us betting on the Christmas number one next year as it is giving money away,'' spokesman Rupert Adams said.

''Simon Cowell has signed an X Factor contract until 2009. He has possibly killed the Christmas number one market for good.'' Last week's number one Take That dropped to second with ''Patience'', the group's first single since reforming, the Official UK Charts Company said.

Pop combo McFly were in third place with ''Sorry's Not Good Enough'' with Girls Aloud fourth with ''I Think We're Alone Now''.

Cascada's remake of Savage Garden's ''Truly Madly Deeply'' dropped to fifth ahead of Christmas favourite ''Fairytale Of New York'' by the Pogues.

Cliff Richard, who had appealed to fans to buy his single ''21st Century Christmas'' in a bid to give him a number one in every decade since the charts began, saw his plea go unanswered as he fell five places to seventh.

Booty Luv's ''Boogie 2Nite'', Akon's ''Smack That'' and Chris Cornell with ''You Know My Name'' made up the rest of the top 10.

Meanwhile Take That topped the album charts for the fourth week running with ''Beautiful World''.

Westlife moved up a spot to second with ''The Love Album'' swapping places with ''Stop The Clocks'', the greatest hits compilation of rock band Oasis.

REUTERS MQA RN0150