Britney takes a break from the gym and hits the beach ... only to spill out of tiny bikini

She might have taken to the treadmill in an ambitious attempt to regain the sexy svelte look which once made her famous.

But as these pictures show, a curvy Britney Spears still has a way to go before she is ready to make her much-awaited comeback.

The princess of pop was taking a break from her new gym routine by sunning herself on a Malibu beach in the company of a friend.

Rising to the occasion: Britney shows she loves her bright new bikini while enjoying the Malibu sunshine

Spears, who has supposedly dropped twenty pounds in thirty days, decided to show off her body as she spent an afternoon relaxing with a friend in the sunshine.

Sporting a yellow bikini which appeared too tight, the Toxic singer sunbathed, read magazines and at one point even paddled her feet in the water before covering up and heading off home.

Britney relaxes in the late afternoon sunshine with a friend

The 26-year-old star is currently working on regaining her famous figure amid talk of a highly-anticipated comeback.

The star was spotted working up a sweat on the cardio machines at Bally's Fitness Center in Studio City, Los Angeles, earlier this week.

Sources say the troubled singer has already started recording again and after being reunited with ex-manager Larry Rudolph, and that she has realised it's time to regain her figure, which critics have said she has "let go" since meeting now ex-husband Kevin Federline in 2004.

Feeling the burn: Britney and her assistant burn off the calories at an LA gym earlier this week

Her "excess" weight has also come under criticism after she stunned fans at the MTV Video Music Awards in September with a disastrous performance of Gimme More.

Britney appeared out of shape as she "walked" through the song, and even appeared to forget her dance routine during the performance.

Fiasco: Critics accused Britney of being out of shape and ill-prepared for her MTV VMA performance in September