Horrified residents in the Austrian town where a 73-year-old man imprisoned and repeatedly raped his daughter for 24 years are questioning how he deceived police, neighbours and social workers for so long.

Austrian authorities say the case of the man who allegedly imprisoned his daughter for 24 years and fathered at least six children with her is one of the nation's worst-ever crimes.

An Austrian man has confessed to holding his daughter captive in a “house of horrors” for 24 years and fathering at least six of her children, police said today.

A woman was held captive in a cellar for almost 24 years by her father, who repeatedly raped her and fathered at least six children, police said.

A woman has told police that she was held prisoner in a cellar for almost 24 years by her father, who repeatedly raped her and fathered her seven children.

A father kept his daughter captive in a cellar for 24 years, Austrian media reported today.