The X Factor - Burke Takes U.K. Christmas Top Spot

THE X FACTOR winner ALEXANDRA BURKE has scored the coveted U.K. number one Christmas spot with her debut single HALLELUJAH.

Her cover of Leonard Cohen's classic hit shifted 576,000 copies, to become the fastest selling single by a female solo artist.

The track beat Jeff Buckley's version of the same song into second place and knocked 2006 X Factor winner Leona Lewis off the top spot and into number three with her cover of Snow Patrol's Run.

Beyonce's If I Were A Boy and Peter Kay's alter-ego Geraldine MCQueen's Once Upon A Christmas Song rounded out the top five.

Cohen's original version of Hallelujah, written 20 years ago, also made it into the top 40 with a new entry at number 36.