X Factor single boost for Salisbury charity

A song recorded by television's X Factor finalists was yesterday on its way to becoming one of the biggest hits of the decade – to the joy of a West-based Armed Forces charity.

A heartfelt cover of the Mariah Carey hit Hero, sung by contestants on TV's popular Saturday night talent show, is guaranteed this week's number one spot.

Some 100,000 copies have been sold, with more than 300,000 expected to go across the UK this week – and even as many as 500,000 if stocks do not run out.

Just three days after being performed on the show by a dozen singers, including Bristol's Marisa Billitteri, Hero is the best-selling single at HMV and top of both Play.Com's download chart and the iTunes download top 100.

Online retailer Amazon said it had sold out of the track in just a few hours after being released on Monday.

Proceeds will be split between the Royal British Legion's annual Poppy Appeal and Wiltshire's Help for Heroes fund, which provides support for severely wounded servicemen and women.

HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said: "This is proving to be one of the biggest single releases for years if not the decade. Only Leona Lewis's debut hit A Moment Like This, which sold over 500,000 copies in its first week, can compare. It's selling more than most Christmas number ones would, and HMV has placed an urgent order for more copies.

"Hero has sold over 100,000 copies in its first two days alone. The only thing that may hold back sales this week is whether the manufacturers can keep pace with the growing demand for the CD."

The news left a dedicated band volunteers dancing with delight at a modest Army hut at Tidworth on Salisbury Plain, which is the headquarters Help for Heroes.

Director of operations Mark Elliott said: "It's just fantastic. We're so pleased It's incredible really; we feel quite humbled by it all.

"It was a magnificent gesture by the X Factor and also from the British public who are buying it. What a way to back our heroes. You could say we're a teensy bit excited."

Thrilled Help for Heroes founder, Bryn Parry, 52, of Downton near Salisbury, said: "We need this song to become the anthem for our blokes, the song that people will always be associated with our wounded boys and girls."

He said the X Factor contestants had visited the Headley Court tri-forces medical centre in Surrey, where forces personnel badly injured in Iraq and Afghanistan are treated.

Millions raised by Help for Heroes will provide a swimming pool and gym for the patients, many of who have lost limbs. Mr Parry urged the public to "make it the best selling single this year and show our servicemen and women we really care."

Bristol Kingswood resident Miss Billitteri, 20, of the group Girlband, who were voted off the show but are on the single, said: "It was so emotional when we sang it.

"There were a number of injured soldiers sitting near us when we sang. I thought I was going to cry. We absolutely gave it our all. It's such a great cause."