One Direction have managed to claim the title of biggest selling album of 2013 with their latest offering “Midnight Memories”.

According to the Official Charts Company, Emeli Sande who won the title in 2012 was also set to be this year’s top seller until One Direction just managed to creep ahead.

The album, which was released back in November has so far been purchased 685,000 times, just inching ahead of Sande who sold 683,000 copies of “Our Version of Events” this year.

Liam Payne of One Direction said: "This tops an amazing year for us.

"We're so excited to have the biggest-selling album in the UK this year, especially with a record we are all so proud of. We'd like to thank everyone who has bought the album, it really means a lot to us."

Martin Talbot of the Official Charts Company added: "Hearty congratulations should go to One Direction. It is a huge honour to become the biggest seller of any year.

"To do so in such a short amount of time is a very impressive achievement."