Gates performing on Red Nose Day

The track - a cover of Norman Greenbaum's 1970 hit - was released to raise money for Comic Relief and features the stars of sitcom The Kumars at No 42.

It is the third time the song has been taken to the top of the charts - after Greenbaum's original hit, Doctor and The Medics scored a number one with it in 1986.

The track led a pack of new entries at the top of the chart.

UK SINGLES CHART 1) Spirit In The Sky - Gareth Gates ft Kumars 2) All I Have - Jennifer Lopez ft LL Cool J 3) Born To Try - Delta Goodrem 4) In Da Club - 50 Cent 5) Beautiful - Christina Aguilera 6) Move Your Feet - Junior Senior 7) I Begin To Wonder - Dannii Minogue 8) Ka-ching - Shania Twain 9) Gossip Folks - Missy Elliott ft Ludacris 10) The Boys Of Summer - DJ Sammy Source: The Official UK Charts Company

However the song is not technically a new entry - some early sales meant it had a chart position of 133 last week.

Jennifer Lopez and LL Cool J's All I Have is new at number two, while Neighbours actress Delta Goodrem's Born To Try followed at number three.

US rapper 50 Cent enters the chart at number four with In Da Club.

Last week's number one, Christina Aguilera's Beautiful, slips to number five, while 1980s-influenced dance track Move Your Feet, by Junior Senior, falls to number two.

Country star Shania Twain and hip-hop star Missy Elliot also have new entries, at number eight and nine respectively.

Brit winners Sugababes enter the chart at number 11 with Shape, one place above rock band Placebo's comeback single, Bitter End.