Take That beating Britney in pre-sales

Take That are comfortably outselling Britney Spears on album pre-sales, reports claim.

Both acts release their new records on Monday and some retailers are seeing Take That's The Circus selling as many as five copies to one compared with Spears's Circus.

On pre-sales alone, Take That's latest release has already become the most popular album of all time on digital music store Play.

The store reports that The Circus has sold 30% more pre-orders than the current biggest selling album of the year, Coldplay's Viva La Vida.

"It’s great to see one of the UK’s favourite acts ending the year on such a high," said Play's Helen Marquis.

"It goes to show that, even at a time when people are watching their pennies, the right title can still generate huge excitement."