Pop superstar Justin Bieber has congratulated the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir after they beat him to this year’s Christmas Number One.

The group claimed the top spot with A Bridge Over You - a mash-up of Coldplay’s Fix You and Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water – after the closest chart battle since 2009 when Rage Against The Machine beat X Factor star Joe McElderry.

The ensemble of doctors, nurses and NHS staff stormed in nearly 31,000 copies ahead of Bieber, with a total of combined chart sales of over 127,000 copies against Bieber's 97,000.

Graciously accepting defeat the 21-year-old Canadian singer tweeted to his 72 million followers: "Just heard the news. Amazing. That is what Christmas is all about. @Choir_NHS congrats!! Very cool."

Bieber had given the choir's efforts a boost earlier in the week when he called on his fans to "do the right thing" and help the charity single get to the top spot, saying that "for one week it's OK not to be number one".

Before the result was revealed Bieber tweeted: "I'm hearing this UK Christmas race is close ... but the NHS Choir single is for charity. So ...

"So for one week it's OK not to be number one. Let's do the right thing and help them win. It's Christmas. NHS Choir good luck."

He added: "This is what it's all about. Merry Christmas."

All proceeds from the NHS Choir's single will go to a selection of charities including Carers UK and Mind.

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The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir

Speaking to OfficialCharts.com the choir said: "We are absolutely overwhelmed and couldn't be any happier.

“It's a brilliant celebration for the NHS across the country so well done and thank you everyone for downloading and streaming.

"A massive cheer for the NHS, thank you.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn added his support, tweeting: "Fantastic news that @Choir_NHS are #ChristmasNo1 - NHS in our hearts all year round."

Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts Company said: "What a fantastic result for the NHS Choir to claim the 2015 Christmas Number 1."

He added: "There couldn't be a more deserving group of winners."