A SECOND investigation has been launched to find out how a Swindon man was able to father six children with his daughter.

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

Called a serious case review, the in-depth inquiries are usually reserved for cases in which a child has died.

The case in question concerns a 51-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He was jailed for 15 years in August after admitting he raped his daughter, committed incest with her and indecently assaulted her over a period of more than 20 years. The abuse against the woman, now in her 30s, started when she was just eight.

He began raping her when she was 16, and four years later she gave birth to the first child.

But it wasn't until 2001 that social services became concerned. An inquiry was launched in April into why the abuse went undetected for so long. Social Services, the police, Swindon Primary Care Trust and the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust all came under the spotlight of an independent consultant.

The findings were presented to the multi-agency Area Child Protection Panel Committee for Swindon last week, but members felt too many questions had been left unanswered. Acting on the advice of the Social Services Inspectorate, the panel called for a more detailed investigation. Each organisation will now be scrutinised to establish who was at fault. The results of the new probe are not likely to be known until May. Jean Pollard, who chairs the ACPC, said: "It is important for us all to see whether there are lessons to be learned."

Ms Pollard was unable to comment on the results of the first inquiry, saying it would prejudice the new investigation.

South Swindon MP Julia Drown said: "The problem is that often in cases like this the abuser has power over their children, and can prevent the abuse coming to light. We all want to be sure that if a case as serious as this happens again it would be detected straight away."

All six children live with their mother and social services are happy they are adequately cared for.