BRITNEY SPEARS - BRITNEY SPEARS GRANTED ALLOWANCE OF $1,500 PER WEEK

Britney Spears is to be granted a $1,500 (£743) weekly allowance, it has been confirmed.

The Toxic star, whose fortune is believed to exceed $100 million (£49 million), will be given a debit or credit card for her weekly spending, Los Angeles superior court commissioner Reva Goetz ruled on Monday.

According to Geraldine Wyle, who represents Britney's father James, the allowance has been granted so the singer can "spend money, have her freedom, and make choices about how she wants to enjoy her life", TMZ.com reports.

And with her affairs under the temporary co-conservatorship of James Spears since January, two specialist attorneys are to appointed to manage the lengthy case.

Jorge Hernandez is to receive a $25,000 (£12,384) retainer for serving as a consultant on questions relating to the conservatorship of Britney's estate while Tom Hansen is to receive $15,000 (£7,500) per month to handle the 26-year-old's entertainment contracts.

Britney did not appear at Monday's hearing as she was taking part in a 'table read' for an upcoming guest appearance on US TV show How I Met Your Mother, her court-appointed attorney Samuel Ingham explained.

"I have made arrangements and offered transportation for her to make an appearance in court, but she has chosen not to come," he added.

The hearing came after a separate court session in which Stacey Phillips, a representative of James Spears, said almost £500,000 of legal fees had been charged to Britney since the custody battle between the former Mousketeer and ex-husband Kevin Federline began in October last year.

Philips claimed Federline has spent frivolously and argued he should take responsibility for some of the legal costs.