Cheryl Cole has called a campaign to make Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name' Christmas number one “mean”.

The campaign, which started on Facebook, is aiming to prevent X Factor winner Joe McElderry from taking the top spot.

Cole, who worked with McElderry on the talent show, said she would be upset if the 18-year-old missed out on the crown.

“I would be devastated to see Joe lose possibly the best thing that could happen to him in his life,” she told The Sun.

“Every aspiring pop star dreams of a number one record.”

Cole, who also judges The X Factor, went on to describe McElderry's song – a cover of Miley Cyrus's 'The Climb' – as "a beautiful song”.

“He put his heart and soul into every single week of The X Factor and I cannot bear to see him lose out to a mean campaign that has nothing to do with his efforts,” she said.

“If that song, or should I say campaign, by an American group is our Christmas number one I'll be gutted for him and our charts.”

Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name' is currently neck-and-neck with McElderry 's single to take the top spot.

If successful, the US band would be the first non-X Factor act to take the festive crown in five years.

(by Jason Gregory)