Will Young set to make number one

Will Young became the first Pop Idol winner in 2002

Huge demand for ex-Pop Idol Will Young's new single has left shops without stock as the track looks set to top the charts.

The star sold 40,000 copies of Leave Right Now in a day, dampening fears that the reality television show winner was suffering a dip in his career.

Stores are wary of over-stocking after a 30% downturn in sales of singles this year compared to the previous year.

HMV said Young had the strongest first week sales for any single this year.

'Surprise'

Several stores believed Young's career was on a downward slide, after Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates last single Sunshine peaked at number three.

HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said: "This is the strongest week-one demand for a single that we have experienced all year, and a small number of stores were taken a little by surprise and ran out of stock quicker than expected.

Gareth Gates has a new single due out in December

"However, they now have copies of the single back on the shelves to cater to the demand from fans."

Music retailers are cautious about how many singles they buy in, due to the slump in sales.

The number of singles sold over the 12 months up to September this year were down by more than 30% on the previous year's figures.

Earlier this year Young beat several other top acts to pick up the pick up the Brit Award for Best Breakthrough Artist voted for by Radio 1 listeners.