High fives as Westlife break record

Westlife enter the Guinness Book of Records

Irish boy band Westlife have made pop history after securing their fifth UK number one.

The band, whose single Fool Again entered the top spot on Sunday, pipped rival acts to become the first in the UK to see their first five singles enter the chart at number one.

Celebrating his group's place in the Guinness Book of Records, Westlife's Kian Egan said: "This is one of the greatest moments. It is like a dream come true.

"Who would have ever imagined two years ago that we would be making chart history?

"We'd like to thank everyone that has supported us."

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The group's success trumps the record set last year by fellow Irish stars B*Witched.

The girl group became the first group to have each of their first four singles go straight to number one.

It also tops the achievements of the Spice Girls, who made number one with their first five singles, but did not enter the charts at the top.

Spice girl Mel C's solo single Never Be The Same Again was toppled from the number one position despite showing stronger sales earlier in the week.

High five

Swear it again - April 1999

If I let You Go Again - Aug 1999

Flying Without Wings - Oct 1999

I Have A Dream/Seasons In The Sun - Dec 1999

Fool Again - April 2000

A Westlife spokeswoman said: "We were getting rather nervous towards the end of the week, but thankfully a lot of Westlife's buyers tend to shop on a Saturday."

The band's runaway success also comes close to eclipsing that of their mentor - they are co-managed by Boyzone's Ronan Keating.

Boyzone have achieved six number one singles, but these were spread over six years.

Currently promoting their debut single Swear It Again in New York, the band are scheduled to complete gigs in Asia and a six-week tour of the US.