Woolworths is to stop selling CD singles, as downloads continue to storm ahead as the preferred way to buy music.

Woolworths has sold chart music since 1952 and launched its own download service this week offering top 10 singles for 59p in the first week. It will offer top 10 albums for£6.99.

The move marks a further decline in the CD singles market in the UK, where only 8 million were sold last year compared with 72.6 million downloads.

Woolworths will continue to sell one-off singles such as the single released by the X-Factor winner.