BRIAN McFADDEN's decision to quit boyband WESTLIFE has at last been vindicated, after he scored a UK number one single with his
debut solo release.

McFadden, 24, left the Irish group earlier this year (04) to concentrate on his own music, and his hard work has paid off now that new entry REAL TO ME sits at the top of the singles chart.

Real To Me displaced last week's number one single, NELLY's MY PLACE / FLAP YOUR WINGS, to number two, while pop punks McFLY sit at number three with new entry THAT GIRL.

In the album chart, NATASHA BEDINGFIELD's debut record UNWRITTEN went straight in at number one, buoyed by her recent chart-topping single THESE DAYS.

In second place remain Los Angeles rockers MAROON 5, with SONGS ABOUT JANE, while British band KEANE's HOPES AND FEARS is also still the country's third best-selling album of the week.

The top ten singles are:
1. BRIAN McFADDEN - REAL TO ME
2. NELLY - MY PLACE / FLAP YOUR WINGS
3. McFLY - THAT GIRL
4. JOJO - LEAVE (GET OUT)
5. 3 OF A KIND - BABY CAKES
6. TWISTA - SUNSHINE
7. NATASHA BEDINGFIELD - THESE WORDS
8. MAROON 5 - SHE WILL BE LOVED
9. THE PIRATES FEAT. ENYA / AMA / BOSS / ISHANI - YOU SHOULD REALLY KNOW 10. 411 - DUMB

The top ten albums are:
1. NATASHA BEDINGFIELD - UNWRITTEN
2. MAROON 5 - SONGS ABOUT JANE
3. KEANE - HOPES AND FEARS
4. KASABIAN - KASABIAN
5. RAZORLIGHT - UP ALL NIGHT
6. THE LIBERTINES - THE LIBERTINES
7. ALISON MOYET - VOICE
8. DIZZEE RASCAL - SHOWTIME
9. ANASTACIA - ANASTACIA
10. FRANZ FERDINAND - FRANZ FERDINAND (GES/WN)