A number of charity singles competed in the race to the top of the music charts this Christmas, but it was 'Wherever You Are' by the Military Wives that took the coveted number 1 spot in the UK, breaking a host of records along the way.

The single sold 556,000 copies in the week ahead of Christmas to become the 60th official Christmas number 1, potentially raising millions for the Royal British Legion and SSAFA Forces Help. The figures mean the song is the seventh-biggest seller for any single since electronic records began in 1994 and is the fastest-selling single since Alexandra Burke's Halellujah sold 576,000 in its first week in December 2008.

2011 was dubbed the 'Year of People Power' by the Official Charts Company, with the success of the single put down to YouTube and social media publicity. Speaking of the single's success, managing director of the Official Charts Company, Martin Talbot, said: "To have achieved more than 500,000 sales in a week without the backing of a vast promotional operation over many weeks, like X Factor, is truly remarkable.

"It is hard to think of a more deserving winner in 60 years of Christmas number ones."

The Wives' single trumped X Factor's 'Wishing on a star' which was backed by media tycoon Simon Cowell and sung by the show's finalists in aid of Together for Short Lives. It also flew ahead of Co-operative Group chief executive Peter Marks band, Angel Square, raising money for Mencap, in the charts. 

Sung by wives of both active and past military serviceman, 'Wherever you are' combines a poem compiled from letters to and from servicemen and their wives, with music composed by Royal Wedding composer Paul Mealor. 

HM Treasury announced ahead of the Christmas Day that it would waive VAT on the sales of the single by donating the equivalent to the sum of the VAT receipts collected from sales until 31 January. The Treasury had earlier announced that it would do the same for the X Factor single.

Other singles raising money for charity this Christmas included 'Wabby Woo' by gaming character Crazy Dave for Concern Worldwide and former X Factor contestant Stacey Solomon's version of 'Driving home for Christmas' which raised money for Alzheimer's Research UK and Together for Short Lives.

Grand totals for the amounts raised by the charity singles are yet to be calculated.