George back on top after 31 years

George Harrison has returned to the top of the charts after an absence of 31 years as record buyers pay tribute to the late star.

His single My Sweet Lord began a second stint at number one after it was reissued to mark his death and raise funds for charities around the world.

The single's position also made chart history - it was the first time a late star has knocked another deceased star from the number one slot.

R'n'b singer Aaliyah - who died in a plane crash in August 2001 - had managed one week in the prime slot with the track More Than A Woman, but has now dropped to five.

Harrison first released the song in January 1971 and became the first Beatle to have a hit in his own right as John Lennon's earlier singles had been with his wife Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band.

Within three months Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr had also notched up chart placings, although neither musician achieved the success of Harrison's number one.

My Sweet Lord was the biggest hit during the solo career of the guitarist, who died from cancer in November, aged 58.

He had only seven more top ten hits, the biggest of which was Got My Mind Set On you in 1987, reaching number two.

Harrison's widow Olivia and son Dhani agreed to the re-release of the single by record company EMI after strong public demand, providing the cash went to a fund administered by the Material World Charitable Foundation which Harrison established in 1973.

A spokesman for EMI said: "We are very happy that the reissue of My Sweet Lord continues to spread George Harrison's music and message around the world."