Police investigating the disappearance of a missing child have discovered that he never existed.

Two year-old Chayson Basinio was reported missing from Allier, France last Saturday by a woman claiming to be his great-aunt. She said she had last seen him near a supermarket and believed that he had been kidnapped. A frantic search ensued, with police divers even searching a lake for fear that the boy had drowned.

Police found photos of the boy and his father on Facebook, but the woman’s story aroused suspicion and further research concluded that these people were completely fictitious, existing only on fake Facebook profiles.

The woman, now in custody on suspicion of inventing a crime, faces up to six months' imprisonment and a fine of up to €7,500 if found guilty.

Her daughter and cousin, both under 18, are also being questioned about their involvement in creating the fake profiles.