Justin Bieber encourages fans to buy NHS Choir single to help them get this year's Christmas No. 1

At the time of writing, Bieber is ahead in the race by 662 copies, but it looks as if he's willing to take an honourable defeat by imploring his Twitter devotees to buy the NHS Choir's single, "A Bridge Over You". The track is a choral blend of Simon and Garfunkel's "A Bridge Over Troubled Water" and Coldplay's "Fix You".

The choir are currently in the second spot, with Bieber's "Love Yourself" in pole position, and another of his songs, "Sorry", in third place.

Due to the new universal release date for music, and the subsequent change in date of the chart announcements, this year's Christmas number one will be revealed on Christmas Day.

Only time will tell if his charitable plea will convince his voracious fans to purchase the track.

I'm hearing this UK Christmas race is close...but the @Choir_NHS single is for charity. So...

— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 23, 2015

so for 1 week it's ok not to be #1. Let's do the right thing & help them win. It's Christmas. @Choir_NHS good luck https://t.co/ORCtFY1k4i

— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 23, 2015

This is what it's all about. Merry Christmas :)

— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 23, 2015