KATIE MELUA - MELUA AND CASSIDY'S DUET COULD TOPPLE LEONA

MELUA AND CASSIDY'S DUET COULD TOPPLE LEONA

KATIE MELUA'S duet with the late EVA CASSIDY is the favourite to be number one this weekend according to mid-week sales.

Data from Music Week suggests that their version of LOUIS ARMSTRONG'S WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD will knock former X-FACTOR winner LEONA LEWIS off the top spot, reports the BBC.

EVA CASSIDY, who died of cancer aged 33 in 1996, is one of the CLOSEST THING TO CRAZY singer's heroines.

Profits from the single, which was released on Monday exclusively in Tescos, will be donated to the Red Cross.

Katie said: "For many, Christmas is a time of fun, happiness and celebration. But at this time of year, there are vulnerable and isolated people up and down the country in need of help. Christmas is a good time to look at how we can give some happiness to others.

"I'm glad that WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD will be raising funds for the British Red Cross to help people in crisis."

Money raised by the single will be spent on emergency equipment, developing life saving skills and providing short-term home crisis care.

However, the songstresses face tough competition for the Christmas number one spot.

LEONA LEWIS'S comeback single BLEEDING LOVE has been at the top of the charts for seven weeks and the new X-Factor winner will release their single on December 18th.

A number of Christmas songs have also re-entered the charts including the POGUES' FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK, WHAM!'S LAST CHRISTMAS and MARIAH CAREY'S ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU.