LEONA LEWIS - LEONA LEWIS TOPS US SINGLES CHART WITH BLEEDING LOVE

Leona Lewis has become the first British woman to top of the US singles chart for over 20 years.

Her single Bleeding Love charted at number one in the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, six weeks after its US release.

The song was the best-selling single of 2007 in the UK and marks an impressive start to the career of the X Factor winner.

Last week Lewis appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show with her manager Simon Cowell, who recently negotiated a £5 million US contract for the singer.

Sales of the track are thought to have greatly increased following her appearance on the iconic chat show.

There have been recent reports that the UK star was considering undergoing throat surgery to cure recurring tonsillitis.

Her spokesman has however dismissed the rumours: "She has got a pretty bad throat. She just can't shake it off at the moment but I don't think she needs to have an op," he said.

Before Lewis, Kim Wilde was the last British female to top the Billboard singles chart with her 1987 cover of You Keep Me Hangin' On.