Britney Spears' 'Womanizer' Leaked Thus Held Back

Britney Spears' new single called "Womanizer", which has been leaked three days ago, was supposed to hit the airplay today, but has been pushed back for another week. A publicist from Jive/Zomba Records named Wendy Washington says that the release delay happens because the song "needs more mixing and editing."

The track, which record company bosses had been desperate to keep secret until the singer's big relaunch in November, was discovered on YouTube by an LA radio station.

The station played a 40 second clip of the song, which has now been picked up by hundreds of thousands of fans.

The revelations follow reports of a fake leak which appeared last week when new website BritneySpearsCircusLeak claimed to have a leaked version of single Candy from Strangers, from the singer's new album Circus. It was later proved to be a fake.

The record company are now trying to track down the insider who posted the version of 'Womanizer' on the internet, along with private footage of Spears rehearsing in an LA dance studio. They are considering legal action against the culprit.

Security measures have been installed at the studio to protect the rest of the material.

The greatest fear for Spears's bosses is the effect that the unfinished track could have on what was promising to be a successful comeback.

Spears's PRs have been trying to carefully rebuild her career following her nervous breakdown and, along with the release of the single, have scheduled only one glossy magazine interview with her in December.

They fear that, if people hear an unpolished version of the single, it will jeopardise their campaign.

Friends of the star told The Sun that the revelations that someone from inside the company had broken her trust have been a further knock for Spears.