The Hillsborough disaster tribute single topped the charts yesterday to become the 2012 Christmas No 1.

The Justice Collective's version of He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother sold more than 269,000 copies, and comfortably outsold X Factor winner James Arthur's debut single Impossible by 45,000, according to Official Charts Company figures.

The reworking of the Hollies' 1969 hit took the festive top spot to cap a memorable week for campaigners, friends and family of the 96 victims of the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's ground during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989.

A new police investigation into their deaths was announced by Home Secretary Theresa May and the High Court quashed accidental death verdicts recorded by the original inquest. A new inquest will now be held.

Steve Rotherham, Labour MP for Liverpool Walton, said: "We have done in nine weeks what it normally takes nine months or more to achieve, working with a phenomenally dedicated team, all of whom have worked for free and displayed total professionalism throughout."

Sir Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Mel C, Beverley Knight, Rebecca Ferguson, Paloma Faith and Frankie Goes to Hollywood singer Holly Johnson are among the artists who featured on the Justice Collective song.

The Government said last week it would waive VAT on the charity single, after a campaign.

It also announced it would fund legal representation at the new inquest for the families of those who died.

This followed the publication in September of a damning report laying bare a cover-up that attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims.

The Hillsborough Independent Panel, chaired by the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, made a catalogue of claims including the allegation that 164 police statements were altered in the wake of the tragedy, 116 of them to remove or change negative comments about policing of the match and ensuing disaster.