Britney SpearsBritney Spears has reportedly given up her fight to regain custody of her sons in order to make her big pop comeback.

The star lost her shared custody of the sons Sean and Jayden in October 2007 after violating court conditions during her custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline. She was initially granted visitation rights but they were revoked after a dispute at her home in Studio City in January 2008, which required police intervention and ended with her being hospitalised on a mental health hold. After her dad Jamie Spears and estate lawyer Andrew Wallet were appointed her legal conservators in February, Britney began to have access to the now three year old and two year old boys, which the amount of visits per week rising throughout last year.

But a source has told OK magazine that Britney was forced to decide whether she wanted to challenge for legal joint custody of the boys again or make her pop comeback - with the release of her sixth studio album ‘Circus’ at the beginning of last month and forthcoming North American tour and a run of dates in London.

The source explained: “Whether it was her decision or whether she was pressured into it, Britney’s deal with the devil put the tour ahead of the kids.”

The source added that Britney also had to agree to remain under the conservatorship of her father Jamie Spears, even though she had expressed annoyance at the situation. The arrangement was set to be lifted at the end of 2008 but was made “permanent” for the sake of her comeback: “The insurance situation changed everything.

“No one would insure the tour unless she was under his control.”

In related news, Britney has released a series of photos of herself with sons Sean and Jayden, and her mum Lynne Spears, on her website.

The pictures, taken before her brother Bryan’s New Year Eve wedding, show the star posing with the boys and her mum at the family’s Louisiana home.