David Bowie has been credited with giving Britain's independent record stores a major boost as so many fans flocked to small shops to buy a copy of his comeback album.

The music legend made a surprise return to the spotlight in January (13) and his first album in a decade, The Next Day, became a number one hit around the world following its release in March (13).

Now newly-released sales figures have revealed more fans than ever went back to independent record stores to buy their copy of The Next Day, which became indie shops' biggest selling album of the year (13) so far.

The figures also show sales in independent stores surged by 44 per cent in the first half of 2013, according to Britain's The Times.