Britney Spears the 'toxic avenger'

WITH pregnant sister Jamie Lynn busy taking up far too much headline space, Britney Spears has resorted to a sustained campaign of late night lunacy to ensure she doesn't suffer publicity deprivation.

For two nights in a row, Spears has kept US paparazzi amused and incredulous with bizarre appearances and rants, leading local gossip site TMZ.com to dub her "the toxic avenger".

On Friday night she was spotted cruising around LA's Sunset Boulevard in a white convertible, using its spare tire on the right rear and with its boot open, before she parked in a grovery store's handicapped spot and hopped in "to buy stuff for my babies" - her two sons to former husband Kevin Federline.

Emerging with a stuffed horse, she vanished into the night.

Singer Spears reappeared 24 hours later elsewhere in the city, getting out of her car and standing in the middle of the street to get a photo of a roadside mural.

But as paps tried to take her picture, a frustrated Spears managed to drop her camera - losing its memory card, until found for her by a snapper - prompting the star to get into a photographer's car for a joyride.

Let's hope she stays out of Santa's way tonight....