Britney's parents fear for her safety

It's the second time Britney has been in hospital in a month

Britney Spears' parents have said they fear for her life after she was released early from a hospital psychiatric ward.

Her parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, released a joint statement saying they were "extremely disappointed" and that their daughter's life had been put at risk and said they wanted the courts to intervene so "a tragedy may be averted".

Britney had been in hospital for six days following increasingly erratic behaviour.

Her parents said: "As parents of an adult child in the throes of a mental health crisis, we were extremely disappointed this morning to learn that over the recommendation of her treating psychiatrist, our daughter Britney was released from the hospital that could best care for her and keep her safe.

"We are deeply concerned about our daughter's safety and vulnerability and we believe her life is presently at risk. There are conservatorship orders in place created to protect our daughter that are being blatantly disregarded.

"We ask only that the court's orders be enforced so that a tragedy may be averted."

Restraining order

Flanked by bodyguards, Britney left the UCLA Medical Center and headed home, the Los Angeles Times said.

Local TV then showed footage of the 26-year-old pop star leaving her home in a black Mercedes, with paparazzi close behind. She's then said to have checked in briefly at a Beverley Hills hotel.

Britney's father has been made her conservator - a court appointment when a judge feels a person can no longer look after themselves.

Paparazzi chased the pop star as she was driven through Los Angeles

Britney's parents have accused her friend and manager Sam Lutfi of cutting her phone lines, grinding drugs into her food and trying to control her life.

They've got a restraining order against Mr Lutfi, 33, preventing him from coming within 250 metres of Britney, her parents, and any of the singer or her parents' homes.

Britney has been in a custody battle with her estranged husband Kevin Federline over the couple's two sons, Sean Preston, aged two, and Jayden James, aged one.

Britney filed for divorce from the former dancer in November 2006.

It's second time Britney has been admitted to hospital in less than a month.

In January, she was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after refusing to surrender in front of the press.