Probe Into Brit's Tot Bother

Britney SpearsIt's not her dodgy outfits, her baby weight or even her questionable bras that have put Britney Spears in the spotlight this time...

Instead, it's her driving skills.

She's been blasted by the US media after pictures show her motoring down the road with her baby, Sean Preston, on her lap.

But in her defence, Brit says she was put in that position because she was "terrified" of photographers who were following her, and did not have time to put her baby in his seat.

"I had a horrifying, frightful encounter with the paparazzi while I was with my baby," she said in a statement.

"Because of a recent incident when I was trapped in my car without my baby by a throng of paparazzi, I was terrified that this time the physically aggressive paparazzi would put both me and my baby in danger.

Britney in January 2006"I instinctively took measures to get my baby and me out of harm's way, but the paparazzi continued to stalk us, and took photos of us which were sold to the media. I love my child and would do anything to protect him."

But the picture agency X17, which specialises in celebrity pictures, insisted that the photographs were not taken in a dangerous situation.

"These pictures were taken in a very peaceful context, in which photographers exhibited no aggressive behaviour. We believe that the pictures speak for themselves," the agency said in a statement.

US police have said they will not be pursuing charges against Britney but have alerted the Department of Children and Family Services.

A police spokesman said:" A meeting with Britney has taken place." An aide added: "Unless a deputy saw the violation, there's nothing we can do."