Austrian authorities have rejected a compensation claim from a woman who was held captive for eight and a half years by a man who tormented her and locked her in a dungeon.

A heatwave sweeping central and south-eastern Europe has killed at least 25 people, with soaring temperatures sparking forest fires, damaging crops and prompting calls to ban horse-drawn tourist carriages.

Austrian investigators were today due to resume questioning of the kidnap victim who escaped a week ago after being held captive for more than eight years by a man who committed suicide hours after she slipped to safety.