The Bellamy Brothers have accused Britney Spears of ripping off the title of one of their biggest hits.

David Bellamy said he believed her new single ‘Hold It Against Me’ had been lifted from their 1979 country smash, ‘If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body, Would You Hold it Against Me’.

The singer said he was alerted to the similarities when his son phoned him after Spears' single was released on Monday (January 10).

He told Entertainment Weekly he had yet to hear from the singer’s representatives and had not decided whether to take legal action.

“I just have to see what the intent was,” he said.

“I just kind of found it unoriginal, and I guess it makes us realize how old we are, because they’re recycling our titles already.”

Spears single was produced by her long-time studio partners Max Martin and Dr Luke. It is the first song fans have heard from her as-yet-untitled new album, due out in March.

(by Jason Gregory)