Britney Spears' libel case against US magazine has been delayed

Britney Spears' libel case against Us Weekly has been delayed after a judge ruled that more evidence is needed before it can be dismissed reports BBC news.

The pop star sued the publication in December over claims that she and husband Kevin Federline made a sex tape and feared it would be made public.

The couple said the story was "bogus" in the $20m legal action.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Hart Cole allowed Spears' legal team time to prepare an argument, against Us Weekly, who asked the court to drop the case. The next hearing is scheduled for May 3.

A spokeswoman for the magazine said in December: "Us Weekly has a credible source, and we stand by our reporting."

According to the details of the case, US weekly reported that Britney and Kevin had told their lawyers that "a member of their entourage had threatened to release raunchy footage of the two".

Us Weekly also reported that the couple gave a copy of the tape to lawyers on 30 September 2005 and were "acting goofy" while watching it with them.

"There was no laughter, disgust or goofy behaviour while watching the video in the company of lawyers because they did not watch any video, and because there is no such video," the action said.

According to the legal action, Ms Spears went to court after Us Weekly refused her request for a retraction, and "is instead maliciously standing by the bogus story".

The article appeared about a month after Ms Spears, 24, gave birth to her first child, Preston.

Rumours are rife that the singer is pregnant with her second child reports the Mirror UK

She married 27-year-old Kevin Federline 18 months ago. But the couple have furiously denied reports that Britney is expecting again

Image via JJB