Ed Sheeran has reached a deal to end a longstanding lawsuit for $20m (£13.8m) over his song 'Photograph', which was alleged to have been "copied" from a single released by X Factor winner Matt Cardle.

Sheeran was accused of "note-for-note" copying from the song 'Amazing', which was released by The X-Factor winner five years ago.

Thomas Leonard and Martin Harrington, who wrote the song, claimed that Sheeran had "unabashedly taken credit" for their work.

According to The UK Independent, in a complaint lodged in the US in July, the writers said: "This copying is, in many instances, verbatim, note-for-note copying, makes up nearly one half of 'Photograph', and raises this case to the unusual level of strikingly similar copying."

The pair submitted the chord structures for both tracks and claimed the two songs shared 39 identical notes, with similarities they said were "instantly recognisable to the ordinary observer".

They were represented by Richard Busch, the lawyer who successfully worked for Marvin Gaye's family over the 'Blurred Lines' copyright infringement case which won a $7.4m (£5.96m) settlement from Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams.

'Photograph' was released from Sheeran's album x [Multiply], and reached No.15 in the UK singles chart, and No.10 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Ed Sheeran will perform at the 3Arena tomorrow night.