Christmas spirit ... Justin Bieber, seen here at the 2015 American Music Awards in November, wanted to be beaten to the UK no.1.

Christmas spirit ... Justin Bieber, seen here at the 2015 American Music Awards in November, wanted to be beaten to the UK no.1. Photo: Stefanie Keenan/AMA2015/Getty

A National Health Service Choir including nurses and doctors has beaten Justin Bieber to capture the coveted UK Christmas no. 1 single spot - and he's OK with that.

The Canadian pop star's Love Yourself was ahead in the UK earlier this week during a see-saw sales battle - but on Thursday Bieber tweeted that it was "ok not to be #1" and urged fans to "do the right thing" and boost a NHS choir charity single to the coveted spot.

It seems his tweet may have made all the difference. When the news was official, Bieber also tweeted his congratulations.

A mash-up A Bridge Over You, by the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS choir, finished nearly 31,000 copies ahead of Bieber in the singles competition - although he still commands three of the top five spots.

The UK's christmas no.1 has for decades been a contest that grabs the nation's imagination. The Star Wars theme tune and the Eagles of Death Metal were also touted for the no.1 spot this year, but neither made an impact. In 2013 AC/DC's HIghway to Hell got a Christmas push and made no.4 on the UK single charts.

A statement from the NHS choir said: "it's a brilliant celebration for the NHS across the country, so well done and thank you everyone." Proceeds will go to several health-related charities.

The NHS, founded in 1948, is a source of national pride for many Britons.

Bieber's Love Yourself remains the no.1 song in Australia, but is no.4 in the US. Adele's Hello still leads in the States.

AP