Kimberley Walsh was today tipped to start the new year at the top of the charts after her band's debut single proved a hit with festive shoppers.

And she is set to rocket to the top with her next single reportedly penned by Brian McFadden of Westlife fame.

The Allerton 21-year-old, pictured in festive costume, spent Christmas at home with her family after Girls Aloud shot to the top of the charts with Sound of the Underground.

But - despite all the girls taking a break from promoting the single - chart insiders said the record was almost certain to stay at the top in tomorrow's countdown, after selling 80,000 copies this week.

The number two record - by Popstars: The Rivals boy band, One True Voice - has sold 30,000 fewer.

Today Kimberley's mother Diane said the whole family was delighted by the news. "It is brilliant," said Mrs Walsh. "We thought there might be a possibility of this happening and it would be absolutely fantastic if it stayed at number one for another week."

Jason Legg, national marketing manager for HMV, said the record - which sold 213,000 copies to secure top spot at Christmas - was odds on favourite to stay there.

There have been no new songs released this week because of the Christmas holidays. He said: "A lot of retailers have been closed for a lot of the week, so it is a bit of an unusual chart. The girls were that far ahead of their rivals that there should not be a problem for them.

"I think it was a much stronger song than One True Voice, and it got a lot more play on the radio stations. Of course, when you have been regularly featured on a television programme that eight million people were watching, you are bound to get a lot of sales."

And Mr Legg tipped Girls Aloud to stick around for some time to come, with a national tour already lined up. "The band have put a lot of money into the group and they are with a good record company in Polydor. Their next single has been written by Bryan McFadden of Westlife, so I shouldn't think they will have a problem in the immediate future."

Mrs Walsh said the family had enjoyed the chance to spend the festive period together after a hectic few months.

"We have had a lovely time - it was just like a normal family Christmas," she said. "It was strange with everything that has gone on just to be back to normal for a while. It was as though nothing had happened."

But celebrations were tempered by the tragic news of the death of Girls Aloud tour manager John McMahon. As reported in later editions of yesterday's Telegraph & Argus, Mr McMahon - who had driven the girls on their national tour of radio stations - died in a car accident on Christmas Day.