The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS choir that beat Justin Bieber to the Christmas number one spot has been signed to the pop star's record label.

The Canadian crooner urged his fans to "do the right thing" and help the charity single to hit the top of the charts last year, saying that "for one week it's okay not to be number one".

Their song A Bridge Over You raced to the number one spot after a wave of public support and the 22-year-old presented the choir with a trophy for their winning single last month.

Now the choir has been signed to Decca Records, the label representing Bieber, which will release their debut album.

Choir coordinator Caroline Smith, who works as a children's physiotherapist, said: "I'm delighted to be able to represent and support the NHS with such a special album.

"When everyone comes together in the choir it's really powerful, I've never experienced anything quite like it."

The choir is made up of around 30 members of staff from across the NHS workforce.

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The album, due to be released in May, is titled Something Inside So Strong, and is described as being "a collection of uplifting classics from those at the heart of the NHS".

It will also mark the 70th anniversary of the NHS Act of July 1956 being passed. 

Royalties will be paid into the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust and used to provide services that "enhance patient experience or staff working lives".

There is no mention of a Bieber covering appearing on the record, but the track list does include Bill Withers's Lean On Me, Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud and Carole King's You've Got a Friend.

Decca is part of Universal Music which represents big-name artists such as Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar.