Westlife have sold more than 35 million albums worldwide

They are joined at the top by fellow Irishmen U2, whose collaboration with punk act Green Day - The Saints Are Coming - rises from six to two.

All Saints climb from 11 to three with their comeback single Rock Steady, and Madonna's Jump enters at number nine.

On the album charts, British funk act Jamiroquai debut at the top with their greatest hits collection, High Times.

Entering at number two is the latest band put together by X-Factor and Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell, Angelis.

UK SINGLES CHART 1. Westlife The Rose 2. U2 and Green Day The Saints Are Coming 3. All Saints Rock Steady 4. Fedde Le Grand Hands Up For Detroit 5. Beyonce Irreplaceable Source: Official UK Charts Company

The group features six children between the age of 11 and 14 drawn from choirs such as Royal Scottish National Orchestra and New London's Children's Choir.

Last week's number one, The Sound Of Girls Aloud, is pushed down to number three, and Damien Rice enters at number four with 9.

The next four places in the top ten are all new entries, with albums from Katherine Jenkins, McFly, Paul Weller and Sir Cliff Richard all making their first appearance.

UK ALBUM CHART 1. Jamiroquai High Times: The Singles 2. AngelisAngelis 3. Girls Aloud The Sound Of - The Greatest Hits 4. Damien Rice 9 5. Katherine Jenkins Serenade Source: Official UK Charts Company

Westlife's chart accolade cements their chart reputation as the most successful boyband of the 21st Century.

They have sold more than 35 million albums in the last eight years, and won the coveted Record of the Year prize four times.

However, they have a long way to go before they beat the record for the most number one singles in the UK.

That honour is held by Elvis Presley, who has hit the top spot 21 times.