Los Angeles, Jan. 6 (Reuters): Pop star Britney Spears, acknowledging that her image has taken a beating in recent months, thanked her fans for their loyalty yesterday and promised she would come back “bigger and better than ever”.

Spears, who raised eyebrows by partying with new pal Paris Hilton and from up-the-skirt pictures that caught her without panties, told fans in a letter on her website, www.britneyspears.com, that she was working on a new album.

“I look forward to coming back this year bigger and better than ever and to reaching out to my fans on a more personal level,” writes Spears, who has been portrayed in the tabloids as out of control since filing for divorce from husband Kevin Federline in November.

“I noticed today that one of my biggest fansites is shutting down soon and I want you all to know that I do understand all the reasons that went behind making that decision and I am sad to see it closing,” Spears writes.