Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody has described Leona Lewis as “the next Whitney” after her cover of one of the band's songs topped the UK charts.

Lewis's cover of 'Run', which was released following public pressure, sold 133,591 copies in seven days, becoming fastest selling digital-download only track of all time.

Lightbody said the singer, who won The X Factor in 2006, had created an “absolutely phenomenal” rendition.

"She obviously studied the song and thought long and hard about how to interpret it," he todl the Daily Record.

"She's stripped it to its bare core. I think she sounds absolutely phenomenal. I'm not a big fan of shows like The X-Factor, but when talent like this comes along, I can't slate it.

"She's going to be around in 20 years. She's the next Whitney. She takes my breath away."

Lewis's cover of 'Run' also features on a re-release of the debut album 'Spirit'.

(by Jason Gregory)