Arctics set for 2007's biggest seller

The new Arctic Monkeys album looks likely to be the biggest seller of 2007 after a strong start.

Some 85,000 copies of Favourite Worst Nightmare were shifted on Monday, its first day of release, and 250,000 are predicted to go during the week.

The Sheffield rockers set the record for the fastest selling debut release ever with Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. It sold 363,735 in its first week.

Gennaro Castaldo, from HMV, said the band had made a remarkable achievment.

"It was always going to be next to impossible to match or beat the phenomenal first day sales of Whatever People Say I Am, but coming this close is a fantastic result which underlines the band's status as the UK's number one rock act.

"If sales continue at this pace, they should certainly top the quarter million mark, which would not only give the band a sure-fire number one, but leave them well-placed to claim the biggest album of 2007."

Currently the Kaiser Chiefs' Yours Truly, Angry Mob is the year's fastest seller, with 151,000 in its first week.