Desperate mother Britney Spears

Jan 9, 2008, 11:30 GMT

08/31/2007 - Britney Spears - © Erik Kabik / PR Photos

Britney Spears' desperation to be with her children was the trigger for her meltdown last week, it has been claimed.

The 'Gimme More' singer was upset she had to attend a court-ordered two-hour deposition with her ex-husband Kevin Federline's lawyer last Thursday (03.01.08) and demanded "make-up" time with her sons, two-year-old Sean Preston and 15-month-old Jayden James.

When Kevin and his lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan refused, she became incredibly emotional.

A source revealed to gossip website TMZ.com: "Britney was mad she had to attend the deposition when it was her day with the kids. She was supposed to give them back at 7pm but wanted to keep them for two extra hours. When they said no she pitched a fit and locked herself in the house."

However, the deposition date had been set for Thursday because Britney had failed to attend the day before. The scheduled deposition was set to begin at 9.45am and end at 11.45am, but Britney did not arrive until 11.32am, giving Kevin's legal team less than 15 minutes to question her.

The 26-year-old singer's visitation rights for that day were from 12pm until 7pm and the deposition was held at a location just 15 minutes drive from her home, meaning she did not lose any of her allotted time with the boys.

(C) BANG Media International