The Justice Collective Claim Christmas Number One On Vodafone Big Top 40

23 December 2012, 19:00

The song, which features Robbie Williams and Paul McCartney, goes straight to number one for the festive season.

The Justice Collective have earned this year's coveted Christmas number one spot on the Vodafone Big Top 40.

The collective's song - a cover of 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' by The Hollies – features an all-star cast of musicians, including Robbie Williams, Sir Paul McCartney and Andy Brown from Lawson.

It was released to help the victims of the Hillsborough disaster and held of competition from last week's number one, The X Factor winner James Arthur's debut single 'Impossible', to take the Christmas top spot.

Speaking to Capital FM about the song, Andy Brown said it was "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."

At number three on the was Will.i.am and Britney Spears' 'Scream And Shout', while Rihanna's 'Stay' was number four and 'I Knew You Were Trouble' by Taylor Swift was at five.