Embattled Britney Spears, 25, gave her first major performance in three years at the MTV Video Music Awards, dressed in a sparkly bra and black bikini.

Her long-awaited comeback turned out to be a huge disappointment - a lacklustre rendition of her new single Gimme More.

The performance follows a troubled 12 months, during which she was admitted to rehab after shaving her head in public, following the collapse of her second marriage.

Spears put her music career on hold in 2004 when she married Kevin Federline and gave birth to two children.

Last month the pair completed their divorce, but are still facing a battle for custody of their sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James.