Britney fingerprinted by police

Britney Spears has visited a Los Angeles police station to be photographed and fingerprinted ahead of her hit-and-run court case.

The 25-year-old singer spent about 30 minutes at the station on Monday evening, after a judge ordered her to submit to the procedures.

Ms Spears was charged last month for allegedly crashing into a parked car while driving without a valid licence.

She could face up to six months in jail for the 6 August incident.

A conviction will also carry a fine of $1,000 (£490).

Ms Spears' first court appearance is scheduled for 25 October.

Personal life

Officer Mike Lopez said Ms Spears, who applied for a California licence earlier this month, was fingerprinted and photographed before leaving, about 45 minutes after having turned herself in.

"She was fine, cooperative, Lopez said. "She did her business and came out."

Ms Spears' career and personal life has recently been beset by a series of incidents.

Last week, a judge granted her permission to spend one night a week with her two young after the singer lost full-time custody to former husband Kevin Federline.

Ms Spears and Mr Federline must appear at a further hearing on 26 October.

Last month, a judge said Ms Spears showed "a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol".

She was then ordered to complete random drug and alcohol tests twice a week, as well as meeting weekly with a "parenting coach", according to court documents.

But she later lost custody after failing to produce her driving licence and missing a test for drugs and alcohol.

Judge orders Britney fingerprints

Singer Britney Spears must have her fingerprints and photographs taken before her hit-and-run court case, a California judge has ordered.

The 25-year-old must submit to the procedures at a Los Angeles police station between now and her scheduled appearance on 25 October.

Ms Spears was charged last month for allegedly crashing into a parked car while driving without a valid licence.

She could face up to six months in jail for the 6 August incident.

A conviction will also carry a fine of $1,000 (£490).

Chart success

The pop star was not required to attend the hearing because the charges - which she was informed of by letter last month - are classed as misdemeanours, which carry relatively minor penalties under US law.

The owner of the other vehicle, which was parked in a car park, reported the damage on 9 August.

Ms Spears' career and personal life has recently been beset by a series of incidents.

Last week, a judge refused to restore custody rights to her two sons after ex-husband Kevin Federline was granted sole custody by the courts.

The singer was instead awarded visitation rights to the children.

According to court documents connected to the case, she has been ordered to undergo twice-weekly random drug and alcohol testing.

She was dropped by her management company last month after her comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards was largely panned by critics.

But she has enjoyed US chart success with her new single Gimme More, which to date has reached number three in the Billboard Hot 100.

Britney cannot be alone with sons

Singer Britney Spears must be monitored when she visits her two children, a court in Los Angeles has decided.

Her time with her sons will be halted if her behaviour "endangers" the youngsters, according to the ruling.

The star's ex-husband, Kevin Federline, was awarded custody after Spears failed to produce her driving licence and missed a test for drugs and alcohol.

Spears is likely to see her children every other day but must also attend three counselling sessions this month.

Her son Sean Preston is two years old, while his younger brother, Jayden James, is one.

Parenting class

Last month, a judge said Spears, 25, showed "a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol".

She was then ordered to complete random drug and alcohol tests twice a week, as well as meeting weekly with a "parenting coach", according to court documents.

The judge told Spears and Federline to complete a parenting class too.

Also last month, Ms Spears was charged with hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence.

She was accused of hitting a parked car and driving away from the scene in Los Angeles on 6 August, a spokesman for the city's attorney's office said.

Ms Spears could face six months in jail and a $1,000 (£495) fine if convicted of the charges.

The singer's latest setback follows a year of unfavourable headlines after her separation from Mr Federline last November.

She was dropped by her management firm last month after her comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards was panned by critics.

However, her new single - Gimme More - has topped Billboard's "hot digital songs" chart in the US, and has jumped 60 places to number three on the Billboard singles chart.

Her new album is due to be released on 12 November in the UK and the following day in the US.

Spears awarded visitation rights

A court in the US state of California has refused to restore custody of her two children to singer Britney Spears.

Instead, Ms Spears was granted rights to visit the children. Her former husband, Kevin Federline, was awarded sole custody earlier this week.

Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner Scott Gordon extended that custody order until another hearing on 26 October to review the situation.

The couple previously shared custody, and no reason was given for the change.

However, a lawyer for Ms Spears, Sorrell Trope, told a US magazine that the judge had acted after the singer was unable to prove she had complied with several court orders.

Last month, Mr Gordon said Ms Spears, 25, showed "a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol".

Hit-and-run

The singer, whose career has been hit by a year of frequent erratic behaviour, did not attend court on Wednesday, although Mr Federline did.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Federline's lawyer, Mark Kaplan, said his client believed the ruling giving him custody was "justified".

"Kevin wants to maintain the custody that he has as long as he can," Mr Kaplan added.

The judge was later expected to confirm the details of Ms Spears' visitation rights.

She has already been ordered her to undergo random drug and alcohol tests twice a week and meet weekly with a "parenting coach", according to court documents.

The judge has also ordered Ms Spears and Mr Federline to complete a parenting class.

Also last month, Ms Spears was charged with hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence.

She is accused of hitting a parked car and driving away from a Los Angeles car park on 6 August, a spokesman for the city's attorney's office said.

Ms Spears could face six months in jail and a $1,000 (£495) fine if convicted of the charges.

The singer's latest setback follows a year of unfavourable headlines following her separation from Mr Federline last November.

She was dropped by her management firm last month following her so-called comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, which was panned by critics.

Her divorce was finalised on 30 July and since then, the estranged couple have shared an equal amount of time with the two boys.

However, Mr Federline had been fighting for greater time and more money.

Spears loses child custody battle

A court in the US state of California has refused to restore custody of her two children to singer Britney Spears.

Instead, Ms Spears was granted rights to visit the children. Her former husband, Kevin Federline, was awarded sole custody earlier this week.

Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner Scott Gordon extended that custody order until another hearing on 26 October to review the situation.

The couple previously shared custody, and no reason was given for the change.

However, a lawyer for Ms Spears, Sorrell Trope, told a US magazine that the judge had acted after the singer was unable to prove she had complied with several court orders.

Last month, Mr Gordon said Ms Spears, 25, showed "a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol".

Hit-and-run

The singer, whose career has been hit by a year of frequent erratic behaviour, did not attend court on Wednesday, although Mr Federline did

"Kevin wants to maintain the custody that he has as long as he can," his lawyer, Mark Kaplan, said after the hearing.

The judge was later expected to confirm the details of Ms Spears' visitation rights.

She has already been ordered her to undergo random drug and alcohol tests twice a week and meet weekly with a "parenting coach", according to court documents.

The judge has also ordered Ms Spears and Mr Federline to complete a parenting class.

Also last month, Ms Spears was charged with hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence.

She is accused of hitting a parked car and driving away from a Los Angeles car park on 6 August, a spokesman for the city's attorney's office said.

Ms Spears could face six months in jail and a $1,000 (£495) fine if convicted of the charges.

The singer's latest setback follows a year of unfavourable headlines following her separation from Mr Federline last November.

She was dropped by her management firm last month following her so-called comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, which was panned by critics.

Her divorce was finalised on 30 July and since then, the estranged couple have shared an equal amount of time with the two boys.

However, Mr Federline had been fighting for greater time and more money.

Spears loses custody of children

Singer Britney Spears has been ordered to hand over her two young children to her former husband.

A judge in Los Angeles ruled that Kevin Federline be given custody of Sean Preston, two, and one-year-old Jayden James, until further notice.

Ms Spears has recently been charged over a motoring incident, and dropped by her management firm.

Representatives for Ms Spears and Mr Federline were not immediately available for comment.

The judge's order came 10 days after the 25-year-old singer was charged with leaving the scene of an accident after allegedly driving into a parked car, and driving without a valid licence.

If found guilty she could go to jail for six months.

Substance abuse

Her comeback appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this month was also panned by critics.

Last month Judge Scott Gordon said Ms Spears showed "a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol".

She was ordered to undergo random drug and alcohol tests twice a week as part of her child custody dispute with Mr Federline.

The judge also ordered Ms Spears and Mr Federline to complete a parenting class.

However, on Monday he ruled that Mr Federline "is to retain physical custody of the minor children on Wednesday October 3, 2007 at 12pm until further order of the court", the official court documents said.

Ms Spears married the backing dancer in October 2004, but the pair filed for divorce last November.

The divorce was finalised on 30 July and since then the estranged couple have shared an equal amount of time with the two boys.

However, Mr Federline has been fighting for greater time and more money.