britney spears hits the shops for some gum

The singer was headed for some retail therapy in Los Angeles yesterday when she was snapped tearing a piece of Wrigley's gum out of its packet.

The 31-year-old sported her recently-dyed brown locks that she debuted at the Oscars this week.

New hair ... Britney went from blonde to brown for the Oscars

Splash News

She wore a pink shirt, dark jeans and brown heels for the low-key outing.

And she continues to wear a ring on her engagement finger - despite announcing that her wedding to Jason Trawick was off last month.

A Brit to chew on ... Britney Spears buys her gum

Fame Flynet

In a statement, she said of her former manager-turned-fiance: "I'll always adore him and we will remain great friends."

Yesterday was not the first time the Piece Of Me singer been caught chewing gum.

Newly single ... but Britney still wears a ring on her engagement finger

X17Online.com

At the 2007 premiere of Four Feathers she left onlookers gobsmacked as she opened wide to reveal a mouthful of minty gum.

And in 2004, reports emerged of a piece of the star's CHEWED gum being put up for sale on eBay.

The spat-out gum, picked up by the seller after a Wembley Arena concert, reached bids of as much as £9,000 on the site.

RastaMonk