Chris Brown today learned how he will be spending his community service — donning an orange vest to collect rubbish and clean up graffiti.

Punished: Chris Brown will clear rubbish

Dressed in the traditional road-sweeping uniform, Brown will pick up litter from along motorways in Richmond, Virginia.

Brown, 20, was sentenced to five years'probation, 180 days of community labour and a year of domestic violence counselling after he admitted attacking ex-girlfriend Rihanna in February.

Bruised: Rihanna's face after the attack

A worker at Richmond City Council revealed details of Brown's “hard labour programme”, which will also involve trimming bushes and washing police cars. Doug Conner said Brown will be kept “under the watchful eye of a supervisor” to make sure he doesn't cut any corners.

And while the singer said he was willing to do whatever work was given to him, it could affect his chances of performing at the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna on 26 September.

Tiger: Rihanna shows off her painted nails

Jermaine Jackson yesterday said he hoped Brown would perform, but he would have to wait to see if a judge would allow him to leave the US.

Meanwhile, Rihanna, 21, showed off some tiger-print nails as she enjoyed a shopping spree in New York.