BRITNEY bear-hugged by beggar!

NationalEnquirer.com

 With $15 million from “X Factor” jingling in her jeans, BRITNEY SPEARS spent some of it helping the homeless – or, rather, one shabbily-dressed guy who begged plaintively as she was about to enter a LA drugstore: “Please help me…I’m at the end of my rope!”

Touched, Brit walked to a nearby ATM, withdrew five crisp $20 bills and placed them in the guy’s grubby hand – then shrieked in surprise when he suddenly hoisted her in a big bear hug!

Instantly, the store’s security guard came running and snatched the buck$$ out of the guy’s hand, shooing him away – but Brit barked: “No!…No! Give this man his money back! I gave it to him!”

Said My SpyWitness, a pal of the star: “Britney’s often seen as a wacky diva, but most times her heart’s in the right place.”