London songstress flies high in charts

LONDON (Reuters) - Singer-songwriter Adele, tipped as hot new talent for 2008, went straight in at number two in the charts on Sunday.

The jazz and soul-steeped Londoner's single "Chasing Pavements" entered the charts a week before her first album, "19", hits the streets, the Official UK Charts Company said.

The 19-year-old attended the BRIT School in south London and attracted industry interest after developing a MySpace page.

Adele Adkins, who uses only her first name, signed a worldwide deal with the XL label in November 2006 and released the limited-edition single "Hometown Glory" last October.

In December, she won the inaugural BRIT Awards Critics Choice prize for new acts and has been hailed as top new female singer-songwriter talent.

Critics say she will follow the likes of Amy Winehouse, KT Tunstall and Corinne Bailey Rae, who have won acclaim internationally.

However, she failed to knock Basshunter's Euro dance track "Now You're Gone" off the top spot in Sunday's singles charts.

Troubled pop star Britney Spears' single "Piece of Me" dropped one place to three.

There were no new entries in the album chart's top 10.