Little Mix's 'Sweet Melody' is leading the race to top the UK singles chart this week, according to midweek data from the Official Charts Company.

The girl group - now a three-piece following the departure of Jesy Nelson last month - released the track in October and it has previously peaked at number three.

Early figures put the song in pole position on this week's chart, although fewer than 2,000 sales separate all of the Top 5 after the first 48 hours of the sales window.

Should 'Sweet Melody' end the week on top then it will become the group's fifth UK number one single and their first since 'Shout Out To My Ex' in 2015.

Ed Sheeran's surprise new single 'Afterglow' is up 11 places to two in the midweeks, while US rapper CJ is also up 11 places at three with 'Whoopty' and Shane Codd's 'Get Out Of My Head' is at four.

The highest new entry of the week to date comes from Justin Bieber, who is tracking at 12 with New Year's Eve release 'Anyone'.