Britney Spears is released from hospital

Britney Spears left a Los Angeles hospital yesterday after doctors decided that she was no longer a danger to herself.

The troubled singer had been held at the Cedars-Sinai hospital for psychological tests following a dramatic custody dispute at her home.

According to reports, Britney was released yesterday morning and made her exit via an underground tunnel to avoid paparazzi photographers who were gathered outside.

Spears had been placed on a "5150 hold" following the incident at her home, showing that doctors believed she posed a danger to either herself or others. It had been expected that she would be monitored for 72 hours, but her early release suggests that officials could no longer justify keeping Britney at the hospital against her will.

However, TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, who was present at Cedars-Sinai as Britney was about to leave, has warned that the singer is still in a worrying state.

"My meeting with Britney and some family members this morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention," McGraw told Entertainment Tonight.

"She was released moments before my arrival and was packing when I entered the room. We visited for about an hour before I walked with her to her car."