March 25, 2008 12:11

Britney Spears' appeal against father denied

Singer's request for conservatorship is thrown out

Britney Spears has been denied an appeal to overturn her father's conservatorship of her estate.

In the terms of the original court order made in February when the singer was in a psychiatric ward, James Spears was granted custody of her property and finances, worth £50.8m, until July 31.

A Californian judge has dismissed Spears' request to appeal, stating that it is not within his powers to grant the application.

Spears and her lawyer John Eardley had claimed that they were not given prior notice when the conservatorship originally took effect.

There has been some doubt about the legitimacy of Spears' appointment of her lawyer as, under the terms of the conservatorship order, she is unable to appoint any legal representatives herself.