Mental health professionals also criticised McGraw, saying he went too far by showing up at Britney’s room at LA’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as she was about to be discharged.

McGraw fired back in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, saying: "Somebody needs to step up and get this young woman into some quality care -- and I do not apologise one whit, not one second, for trying to make that happen."

Britney, 26, was hospitalised after a child custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Britney’s car ’abandoned in street’ - Jan 9 2008
Troubled Britney Spears’ car was impounded after police found it abandoned in the street.

Police said Britney was driving on Monday night when she had a flat tyre on Sunset Boulevard in LA.

Police spokesman Karen Smith said the star left the car unattended and as it was blocking traffic it was towed away.

Police said it was unlikely the 26-year-old will be given a parking ticket because the car was disabled when it was left in the street.

"She probably will have to pay to get her car out of the impound," Ms Smith said.

It emerged later that there was a scuffle between a photographer and a security guard as Britney entered an LA hotel two hours after her car was towed away.

The singer was not to blame for the fight at the Four Seasons Hotel, the police spokeswoman said.

"She was leaving the hotel when one of the paparazzi and a security guard at the hotel had a scuffle," Ms Smith said.

The photographer had left the hotel by the time police officers arrived, and no one was arrested. The hotel’s head of security did not respond to a message for comment.

Police said the impounded car was her new Mercedes-Benz.

Troubled Spears climbs single chart - Jan 7 2008
In the week that saw troubled pop star Britney Spears stretchered out of her home after a custody dispute with her ex-husband, UK sales of her latest single have soared.

The aptly titled Piece Of Me has rocked to number 19 in this week’s singles chart, up from number 46 last week.

Spears made headlines this week when she was admitted to hospital after the row on Thursday.

She has since left Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, but at an emergency hearing on Friday, a court Commissioner granted Kevin Federline sole custody of sons Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one.

Meanwhile, X Factor winner Leon Jackson maintained the number one position for the third consecutive week with his version of When You Believe.

The Scottish singer clinched the Christmas number one spot with the song, 2007’s fastest-selling single of the year.

And 2006 X Factor winner Leona Lewis is at number three in the UK album and singles charts with song Bleeding Love and her debut album Spirit.

Take That maintained last week’s position at number five with their single Rule The World, which has notched up 12 weeks in the top 40.

Amy Winehouse’s album Back To Black slipped two positions from number five to number seven, its 62nd week in the charts.

Britney barred from seeing children - Jan 6 2008
A court commissioner has awarded sole custody of Britney Spears’ two young sons to ex-husband Kevin Federline.

He has also suspended the troubled US pop star’s visitation rights.

Los Angeles commissioner Scott Gordon issued a ruling the day after Spears was hauled away from her home to a hospital by paramedics after police had to intervene when she refused to return the children to Federline after a court-monitored visit.

Mr Gordon ordered another hearing to be held on January 14.