COLDPLAY have scored their sixth UK number one album with Ghost Stories.

The new release went straight to the top of the charts, emulating the success of the British band's first five albums.

Ghost Stories is also the fastest-selling artist album of the year after 168,000 copies were bought in its first week, according to the Official Charts Company.

The previous record holder was Caustic Love by Paolo Nutini with 109,000 copies.

Coldplay's previous five studio albums have sold more than 11.1 million copies in the UK. They are Parachutes (2000), A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002), X&Y (2006), Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (2008) and Mylo Xyloto (2011).

Last week's chart topper, Michael Jackson's Xscape, was forced down to second place while recently reunited Beautiful South bandmates Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott entered at number three with What Have We Become.