Comic Rik Mayall’s 2010 World Cup song Noble England has gone straight into the top 10 of the UK’s official singles chart.

The track, which was originally recorded for the last World Cup, failed to chart the first time around, but thanks to a social media campaign set up in his memory it has gone in at number seven.

Mayall, who died last week, said of the track in 2010: “Football chants are one of the great traditions of following football and Shakespeare is also part of our national heritage.

“It seemed only natural that they should go together.

“I’m doing my bit, just like every other Englishman. As we stand shoulder-to-shoulder, doing out bit, stiff upper lip – apart from when you’re screaming out the lyrics to Noble England.”

Mayall suffered from an “acute cardiac event” after returning from a morning run, his widow said.

Barbara Mayall said her family had received ‘’thousands and thousands of messages of condolence’’ from around the world. She said: “We always knew that Rik was well loved but we are all overwhelmed by so many joining us in our grief.”

Meanwhile, former X Factor contestant Ella Henderson has described going straight in at number one on the official singles chart as “incredible”.