FRENCH cops have launched a desperate search after a two-year-old boy vanished while on holiday with his grandparents in the south of France.

       Young émile was playing in the garden in Le Vernet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence on Saturday when he went missing.

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       Emile went missing from his grandparents' garden in France on Saturday 5

       The boy disappeared in Le Vernet on Saturday Credit: Rex 5

       French police have combed the area looking for the missing boy Credit: AFP

       Fran？ois Balique, the mayor of Le Vernet, told French TV: "The family was getting ready to leave the house to go on an outing.

       "He took advantage of this fleeting moment [of inattention] to leave.

       "His grandparents realised he was no longer there when they went to put him in the car."

       He said that there was no suggestion the boy had been abducted, adding: "It’s a small village with 20 or so houses … we see everything.

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       "He could have gone some distance and perhaps got lost or was hiding."

       émile’s grandparents alerted the authorities about 5.15pm local time.

       The boy's disappearance sparked a massive search as police, gendarmes and firefighters alongside family members started searching for the missing toddler.

       Search and rescue teams using a helicopter, drones and sniffer dogs have combed the area but no trace of the child has been found.

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       émile, who is originally from Bouches-du-Rh？ne near Marseille, was seen by two people when he left his grandparents' home but they said they "lost sight of him."

       Cops have described the child as 3ft tall with brown eyes and blonde hair and said he was wearing a yellow top, white shorts with a green pattern, and hiking shoes when he disappeared.

       They have called on anyone with information to come forward.

       The manager of the Bistrot in Le Vernet Marie-Laure told La Provence.: "We were preparing for the evening service, when we were told the child had gone missing.

       "We all went to see what we could do to help as quickly as possible.

       "We have looked in places where he could be, we have really looked everywhere for him."

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       A helicopter, drones and sniffer dogs have been used in the search for the toddler Credit: Rex 5

       Volunteers joined the search for the two-year-old Credit: AFP