Take That are outselling Britney Spears on album pre-sales by as much as five copies to one with some retailers.

Both acts are due to release their new albums – Take That's 'The Circus' and Spears 'Circus' – on Monday (December 1st).

Digital music store Play said Take That's LP is already the company's most popular album of all time on pre-sales alone.

'The Circus' has so far attracted 30% more pre-orders than Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends', which is currently the biggest selling album of the year.

“It’s great to see one of the UK’s favourite acts ending the year on such a high,” Helen Marquis, Head of Music for Play, said.

"It goes to show that, even at a time when people are watching their pennies, the right title can still generate huge excitement."

Spears will have to hope that her performance on the X Factor this weekend increases demand for her album, which is the follow-up to 2007's 'Blackout'.

(by Jason Gregory)