Taylor Swift is the world's best-selling artist

Taylor Swift has been named the world's best-selling artist of 2014 in new figures released by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

The pop star achieved the feat with stellar international sales of her last album 1989, which shifted around six million copies across the globe despite only being released in October (15).

Swift saw off fierce competition from a number of British stars to take the top place, leaving One Direction trailing in second, ahead of Ed Sheeran in third and Coldplay in fourth.

The top five was rounded out by Australian rockers AC/DC.

The list was dominated by British acts and only four stars in the top 10 were American artists - joining Swift was late King of Pop Michael Jackson at six, and Katy Perry and Beyonce at nine and 10 respectively.