Police called to control paps in Britney's neighborhood

Police were called to Britney Spears' neighborhood after someone reported a swarm of paparazzi trespassing in the singer's gated community.

Los Angeles police Officer Mike Lopez said officers received a call around 7 p.m. Monday about a group of photographers "stepping onto the grounds" of the private neighborhood while following the 26-year-old pop star.

When officers arrived, they didn't see anyone trespassing, Lopez said. He said citations were issued for several illegally parked cars.

Lopez said he didn't know how many photographers were following Spears.

Spears has spiraled downward since filing for divorce from Kevin Federline in November 2006. Her bizarre public antics include shaving her head bald, attacking a car with an umbrella and bringing along a paparazzo pal on trips to a courthouse in her custody case with Federline.

She was taken to a Los Angeles hospital by paramedics earlier this month after police were called to her home because of a dispute involving her sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. She has lost custody and visitation rights with the boys.