Reach for the heavens... Brit's church guard pulls gun on a photographer

This is the terrifying moment when a church security guard pulled a gun on a photographer trying to snap Britney Spears.

The undercover officer, a retired policeman, ran out of the Hollywood church, aimed his weapon and shouted: "Get out of your car, get down."

Christian soldier: The guard aims his gun at the terrified photographer who was trying to get a picture of Britney Spears

The undercover armed church guard stops a photographer from following Britney

Britney attended a church service in Hollywood following her stay in rehab

He then handcuffed the photographer and accused him of trying to run over a traffic policeman before eventually releasing him.

It happened on Sunday as Spears, 25, left a service at the Bel Air Presbyterian Church.

"When her 4X4 came out officers stopped the traffic, let her go ahead and held paparazzi back," said one witness.

"One photographer tried to get past and suddenly two undercover security guards ran out into the street. The photographer looked terrified. It's not what you expect to see outside a church service."

Mike Hooper, executive director of the church, said: "One photographer was on the wrong side of the road and tried to run over an officer who had stopped traffic.

He kept coming and one of our guards pulled a gun out. I cannot speak for the security officer, but he does not regret it. This is a church, not a concert."