Band killed in Sweden car crash top iTunes chart

Viola Beach have reached number one on iTunes as fans pay tribute to the band who were killed in a car crash at the weekend.

The indie band reached the top of the iTunes songs chart with their single Swings & Waterslides after a fan-led campaign to get them to number one.

Following news of the tragedy, Swings & Waterslides entered the official singles chart and reached number nine on Wednesday ahead of the full chart announcement on Friday, according to figures from the Official Charts Company.

Musicians including Paloma Faith, Gabrielle Aplin, The Stone Roses, and Liam Gallagher have called on their followers to help with the campaign.

The band's record label Communion has confirmed that the proceeds from the sale of singles will go to the families of the band and their manager.

Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin were killed alongside their manager Craig Tarry when their car plunged off a bridge into a canal in Sweden in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The accident took place in Sodertalje, 18 miles from the capital Stockholm.

Viola Beach, who had just performed their first gig outside the UK, had been due to play a homecoming gig at Warrington's Pyramid on March 12.

The four-piece had featured on BBC Introducing, which showcases up-and-coming music artists, and described themselves as an ''indie pop'' band.

Mr Leonard was on guitar and vocals, Mr Reeves on guitar, Mr Lowe on bass and Mr Dakin on drums.