Britney's groom paid £300,000

Britney Spears paid childhood friend Jason Alexander more than £300,000 to end their shock Las Vegas marriage, it was claimed yesterday.

The singer handed over £305,000 - more than £6,000 for every hour of their two-day union, according to US reports.

It is also said the young couple never consummated their marriage, staying in separate rooms at the Palms Hotel in Vegas. An insider said: 'Halfamillion dollars in cash was transferred to the Louisiana account of Jason Alexander hours after they wed.

'Then, to sweeten the pot, he was given $60,000. It came from the Palms casino. Britney wrote them a cheque.'

A friend of 22-year-old Spears claimed there was a frenzied hunt for a lawyer after her mother Lynne 'hit the roof' about the 5am wedding.

Alexander was allegedly pressured to sign the annulment papers hastily drawn up by a lawyer. 'One of her people said to Jason, "You know in your heart Britney didn't know what she was getting into. Take the money. It's the best deal you're gonna get",' the source told a US magazine.

A 'giggling' Spears failed to grasp the seriousness of what she had done, he added. But, in an interview with MTV, the singer insisted she believed in the sanctity of marriage - and 'things just got outta hand'.

Asked if she still had feelings for her groom, she said: 'I don't know. That's a personal question. But I do have a video coming out and it's very cool.'