The Justice Collective And James Arthur Battling For Christmas Number One

23 December 2012, 11:48 | Updated: 23 December 2012, 19:09

Time is running out until the winner of this year's race for the festive top spot is unveiled on the Vodafone Big Top 40.

The Justice Collective and James Arthur are going head to head in this year's race for Christmas number one, which will be unveiled later.

The X Factor winner's first single 'Impossible' went straight to the top spot on the Vodafone Big Top 40 last week following his triumph on the TV talent show.

But the track has faced a challenge from The Justice Collective all week to take this year's festive crown.

UPDATE: The Justice Collective Are Christmas Number One

The collective's cover of 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' has been released as a tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster and features the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams and Andy Brown from Lawson.

The 'Taking Over Me' star told Capital FM that the song, a cover of The Hollies' track of the same name, is "incredible" and was thrilled to be singing with some if his idols.

"I'm just delighted to be involved. I mean I'm singing alongside some of my idols like Paul McCartney and Robbie Williams," he said. "The song's incredible itself, 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', it's got a great meaning behind the song and I really think it deserves to be Christmas number one this year."

The star also opens the entire track, singing the first line and called it a "dream come true" to receive such an honour considering his background.

He added: "I mean the fact that I'm opening it is just an absolute honour and a dream come true for me being a Liverpool fan and also born and raised in Liverpool."

The Christmas number one will be announced on the Vodafone Big Top 40 chart show from 4pm today (23rd December).