COPS frantically searching for a missing French toddler are probing a horrifying new theory.

       Little two-year-old Emile Soleil vanished without a trace from the village of Le Vernet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence on July 8.

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       Two-year-old Emile Soleil vanished from his grandparents' home in Le Vernet 4

       Cops and volunteers scoured the area but could not find any trace of Emile

       Emile’s grandparents alerted the authorities about 5.15pm local time sparking a massive search for the missing boy.

       But officials called off the search on Thursday as "no sign" of Emile was found in the small hamlet, which is home to about two dozen people.

       Now cops are investigating a theory that the young lad may have been hit by a combine harvester.

       A farmer from the village told BFMTV: “Sometimes we find deer.

       “The little one may have ended up in the tall grass and been hit by a farm machine. That would be terrible.”

       Emile, who is originally from Bouches-du-Rh？ne near Marseille, is described as 3ft tall with brown eyes and blonde hair.

       The day he disappeared he was wearing a yellow top, white shorts with a green pattern, and hiking shoes.

       He was last seen by two people when he left his grandparents' home - but they said they "lost sight of him".

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       The boy's disappearance has sparked multiple theories regarding his whereabouts - with several questions remaining unanswered.

       The absence of the boy's parents from the public eye has fuelled speculation regarding the possibility of the family's involvement in the boy's disappearance.

       Information has also emerged about their background.

       A police source said: "A family reunion was taking place, with several uncles and aunts of the child, of all ages, including some minors.

       "Emile was seen on Saturday morning, along with other children."

       A local told French newspaper Le Figaro there was "some bickering between the children" a few days before Emile's disappearance.

       Asked whether it is possible for the boy's family to be somehow involved in his disappearance, a source close to the investigation told La Depeche that it is a theory police are exploring among others.

       The mayor of Le Vernet Francois Balique said their best hope is for the boy to have been kidnapped.

       Speaking to Le Figaro, Francois Balique said: "Our only hope now is that he’s been taken and is alive. It’s the last thing we can hope for and it’s already terrible.

       "We could consider that someone wanting to cause harm to a child passed by the area, that he saw this beautiful little boy and took him away. He couldn’t survive alone in the wild, that’s for sure.

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       "And since little Emile’s body has not been found, it means that he was not alone at the time.

       "We can consider a car accident in which the driver would have panicked and concealed the body. That’s one hypothesis."

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       Volunteers joined the search for the two-year-old 4

       Cops are probing a horrific new theory Credit: AFP