Ed Sheeran's X breaks U.K. chart record

Ed Sheeran is celebrating after his second album X broke a record for the longest stay in the U.K. album chart top 10.

The Thinking Out Loud singer released the follow-up to + in July, 2014 and it shot straight to the top of the albums chart, where it remained for eight weeks.

The disc has maintained its grip on the top 10 ever since, with five more reappearances in peak position, and his 72-week stay has earned him a new record.

"X has now spent more time in the UK top 10 than any album ever, 72 weeks and counting, crazy stuff innit (sic), fanks (thanks) for helping break the record," he wrote on Twitter.com.

X sold more than 2 million copies in the U.K. by March (15), nine months after its release, making Ed the fifth artist to achieve the feat this decade after Adele, Emeli Sande, Take That and Michael Buble.

Ed is planning a hiatus once he finishes his world tour in December (15). He previously said, "I think a break for me is coming off my phone, social media and emails. I am constantly on my phone, texting, replying to emails, on Twitter, on Snapchat, on Facebook. I just want to get off it and live and drive to places and listen to music and have normal conversations with people and get back to normality. I've got a packed schedule, then, when December 12 comes, it's done."