Britney Spears leaves hospital

Britney's parents express fear for her life

Britney Spears's parents have expressed fear for her life, after she was discharged early from a psychiatric hospital yesterday.

In a joint statement issued to CNN, Lynne and Jamie Spears begged for legal action to be taken before it was too late for their daughter.

'As parents of an adult child in the throes of a mental health crisis, we were extremely disappointed this morning to learn that over the recommendation of her treating psychiatrist, our daughter Britney was released from the hospital that could best care for her and keep her safe,' the statement read.

'We are deeply concerned about our daughter's safety and vulnerability and we believe her life is presently at risk… We ask only that the court's orders be enforced so that a tragedy may be averted.'

Britney entered the UCLA Medical Centre last Thursday, and was due to stay for a further week for an involuntary mental-evaluation.

Unlike the media frenzy that accompanied her admission to the facility, Britney slipped out quietly with a team of security, but no police escort.

On leaving the centre she joined on-off boyfriend Adnan Ghalib to visit the Beverley Hills Hotel for a meeting with her business manager, and a trip to her lawyers.

It is believed that she may be trying to overthrow the temporary legal control that her father gained over her estate.