JAMES Blunt is once again at the sharp end of the UK charts, this time for having the biggest selling album of the decade.

His 2004 debut effort, Back to Bedlam, has been named as selling the most copies of any album in Britain from 2000 to 2009.

The singer, originally from St Mary Bourne near Whitchurch, beat off such acts as Amy Winehouse, David Gray and even The Beatles to capture top spot.

The former captain in the Household Cavalry turned to a career in music after spending several years in the army.

Shortly before his debut album took off, he spoke to the Hampshire Chronicle's music page, Amplified, about his musical ambitions.

During the interview, he recalled how he used to strap a guitar to the side of his tank while serving in overseas trouble spots.

Now aged 35, his first album sold more than three million copies in Britain to earn ten platinum discs.

The second track from his debut effort, You're Beautiful, also topped the UK singles chart for five weeks in 2005.

Runner up in the 2000-2009 chart was No Angel by Dido, followed by Amy Winehouse's Back to Black and Spirit by Leona Lewis.

David Gray's White Ladder took the final place in the top five with The Beatles' greatest hits compilation, 1, in sixth spot.