Take That beating Britney Spears in 'Circus' album battle

Take That's new album 'The Circus' is currently on course to beat Britney Spears' new album to the Number One spot next Sunday (December 7) in the UK albums chart.

According to the band's spokesperson, Take That sold around 133,000 copies of their new record yesterday (December 1).

They now boast the biggest first day sales of 2008, ahead of Coldplay, who sold 125,000 copies of 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends' on its first day of release (June 12).

Meanwhile, a music industry insider said that sales for Spears' new album - the similarly-titled 'Circus' - currently stand at around 24,000, meaning that Take That's effort is outselling hers by over 100,000 copies.

Spears is currently occupying the Number Three spot in the charts, behind Take That and The Killers, whose 'Day And Age' is at the provisional Number Two position after a day of sales.

The news follows reports that retailers had to use emergency methods to get copies of Take That's and Britney Spears' albums into their stores following the failure of distribution company Entertainment UK to deliver stock.