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The race for Christmas number one has narrowed with Joe McElderry making ground on rap metal icons Rage Against The Machine.

Britain is one of few countries in Europe to eulogise the Christmas number one slot. Every year families across the nation gather around the television set to watch 'Top Of The Pops' and discuss the year's music.

Invariably the older members of the family have the upper hand, decrying modern innovations such as 'punk' and 'dance'. This year the nation has been split right down the middle between X Factor winner Joe McElderry and incendiary rap metal icons Rage Against The Machine.

For the last five years the X Factor winner has gone on to claim the number one slot, with many people growing dis-satisfied by their monopoly of the festive race.

This year a fan led campaign catapulted Rage Against The Machine into an early lead. However with Joe McElderry's single only becoming available as a physical entity on Wednesday (December 16th) that lead has been slashed.

Initially ahead by some 65,000 sales the rap metal group have now been pegged back to a meagre 9000. With two more days of shopping left it looks as if this year's Christmas number one is too close to call.

However X Factor judge Cheryl Cole has blasted the campaign, claiming "it's not fair". Speaking to The Sun the star said: "It's David versus Goliath and it's not fair on Joe. It's getting out of hand."

"If that song, or should I say campaign, by an American group is our Christmas Number One I'll be gutted for him and our charts".