One Direction and Rihanna battle for Number 1

One Direction are locked in a battle with Rihanna for top spot in the singles chart.

Mid-week sales figures from the Official Charts Company show the five-piece boyband have sold around 250 more copies of their song Live While We're Young than Rihanna's Diamonds.

The One Direction track is the first release from their second album Take Me Home.

They could also face competition from Adele whose new single, the Bond theme Skyfall, goes on sale on Friday though it will more likely challenge for top spot the week after.

Other expected new entries include Ellie Goulding who looks set to land her sixth Top 40 hit with Anything Could Happen.

Last week's number one, Psy's Gangnam Style, is expected to drop to number three and Muse are on course for their fourth number one album with The 2nd Law.

PA