Chinese computer manufacturer Lenovo has overtaken Hewlett Packard to becoming the world's leading PC maker, according to research firm Gartner.

HP had held the crown for six years, but in Gartner's report, Lenovo now holds a 15.7 per cent share of the PC market, just ahead of HP who are on 15.5.

As Lenovo has gone from strength to strength, HP has been in decline, with the US firm posting a £5.5bn loss in the previous quarter.

Gartner's findings contradict those of another research firm, IDC, which has HP just holding its lead.

87.5 million PCs were sold in the last three months, a drop of 8.3 per cent compared to this time last year. This global slump in sales is mainly due to the rising popularity of tablets and smartphones as alternatives to computers.

Written and presented by Alfred Joyner