Harry Styles scores solo number one as Ed Sheeran's reign ends – but it was VERY close

The One Direction star has rocketed to the top with Sign Of The Times, sending Shape Of You down to No2 for the first time.

It was very nearly a different story, however: at the half-way stage Styles was leading Sheeran by two copies to one, but by yesterday just 8,000 copies separated them.

Luckily for Styles, Sheeran never fully closed the gap – and only 3,000 sales kept them apart.

Sheeran’s other current hit, Galway Girl, slides down one place to No3, while Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson’s Symphony is at No4 and Drake’s Passionfruit is at No5.

Elsewhere, Lorde’s Green Light advances into the Top 20 for the first time to No20, while Jason Derulo moves up to No2 with Swalla.

On the album chart, Sheeran remains king.

Divide has held its lead at the summit while Rag’n’Bone Man remains at No2 and Chainsmokers bow at No3 with Memories… Do Not Open.

Yesterday Harry Styles revealed that his own solo album will be self-titled, and is due out next month.

Its striking front cover shows the star topless from behind, and the tracklisting sparked speculation that songs could be penned about his famous exes.

He will become only the second member of 1D to put out his own album, after Zayn Malik’s Mind of Mine debuted at No1 last year.

Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson also all have music in the works.