Britney SpearsBritney Spears is reportedly effectively back to sharing custody of her sons equally with ex-husband Kevin Federline again.

Britney and Kevin initially shared custody of the boys - now three year old Sean and two year old Jayden - after their separation in November 2006 but Britney lost custody a year later after she repeated failed to adhere to court orders in 2007. Her access was dropped down to supervision visitation then revoked entirely following an incident in which she held Jayden hostage at her Studio City home in January 2008. A month later in February 2008, she was placed under a supervision order with her dad Jamie Spears appointed as a conservator and since then, she has been gradually allowed more access to the boys.

According to sources close to the former couple, the new arrangements have been agreed after discussions to allow Britney to effectively take the boys with her on her upcoming tour of the US.

The boys will be based in one of three hubs on the tour - in New Jersey, New Orleans and their usual homes in Los Angeles - as Britney travels around the country. Kevin will be paid $5000 a week and will have homes rented for him near each of the hubs whether he wants to use them or not.

A source explained: “On the tour, Britney will have the boys for three days and nights a week. They’ll be based at the hub houses and she’ll travel back to see them. They’ve planned her tour so this shouldn’t be too crazy.

“When it’s over and she’s back in LA again, they’ll keep to the three days and nights arrangement, but some weeks she’ll have them for four days and nights instead to make it around 50/50.

“It’s still classed as visitation not legal custody but as long as she gets to see her kids, Britney doesn’t mind.”