AN inquiry into how a Swindon man was able to father six children with his daughter is due to report today.

The investigation is one of the most serious child protection inquiries ever held in the borough.

It was set up by the Swindon Area Child Protection Committee in December last year after a first inquiry left too many unanswered questions.

National children's charities have criticised the length of time it has taken to discover how more than 20 years of sexual abuse went unnoticed.

The 52-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, started sexually abusing his daughter when she was eight.

The abuse got steadily worse and he raped her when she was 16.

The girl gave birth to the first of six children when she was 19 and told her family the father was a central heating engineer. The family did not bring up the question of paternity even though she went on to have five more children.

The father and daughter were both arrested in Nov-ember and the children were placed under a protective order.

Charges were dropped against the woman and she still cares for all six children.

The man was jailed for 15 years, of which he must serve at least 10. He has been placed on the sexual offenders register for life.

See tomorrow's Evening Advertiser for reaction to the report.