Britney Spears has reportedly hired a driver to ferry around her children - and a private detective to track ex-husband Kevin Federline.

On Friday, a court in Los Angeles requested that Britney not drive around with her two sons Sean and Jayden in the car after a number of driving incidents with the paparazzi so the Gimme More star is said to have decided to hire a chauffeur to battle through the crowds of photographers for her instead.

Britney’s lawyer Sorrell Trope issued a statement yesterday explaining that the appointment of a driver is one of a number of “security measures which she hopes will only be necessary temporarily for the protection of her children”.

And as for the private detective, TMZ is reporting that Britney has hired an investigator to dig up information about Kevin to bolster her case in their ongoing custody dispute. A source told the website that Britney witnessed Kevin taking drugs and drinking beer around their sons during their short marriage and she hopes to find evidence of similar behaviour to counter is claims against her.

The former couple are due to return to court next week for the next scheduled hearing in their custody battle: before then, Britney will celebrate Thanksgiving with her sons a day early while Kevin caring for the boys on the day itself.