Noel Gallagher tops UK album chart

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds is the first solo album for the guitarist and songwriter

Former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has topped the UK album chart with his debut solo album, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.

The record outsold its nearest rival, X Factor winner Matt Cardle's first album, Letters, by some 40%, according to the Official Charts Company.

Figures showed Gallagher's album notched up sales of more than 120,000.

The first single from the record - AKA What a Life - also climbed up the singles chart from 55 to 24.

Gallagher's chart performance beats that of his brother, Liam, whose post-Oasis band Beady Eye peaked at number three when they released Different Gear, Still Speeding last year.

Both Gallagher and Cardle's albums nudged Steps - last week's number one - down to three with their greatest hits record.

The only other new entry in the chart was Irish crooner Daniel O'Donnell, who notched up his 14th top 10 UK album with his greatest hits Ultimate Collection at seven.

In the singles chart, Rihanna held onto the top spot for a third week with We Found Love featuring Calvin Harris.

Boyband The Wanted were the highest new entry at two with their sixth single, Lightning.

While Charlene Soraia's cover of The Calling's 2001 song Wherever You Will Go climbed the chart again from number seven to three thanks to its use on a tea advert and by a contestant on X Factor last week.

The original version of the song also climbed to 16 after re-entering the top 40 the previous week.

There were also two other new entries in the top 10 - Kelly Clarkson's Mr Know It All came in at number six, while Video Games by Lana Del Rey entered at number nine.