A body has been found in the search for Catherine Shaw, 23, the British backpacker who went missing in Guatemala last week, the Lucie Blackman Trust has announced.

The charity, which provides support to families with a relative missing, murdered or in crisis abroad, said in a statement: “The Lucie Blackman Trust is saddened to announce that a body has been found in the search for Catherine Shaw.

“Formal identification has not taken place but the body is believed to be Catherine. Catherine’s family have been informed. Please respect their privacy at this difficult time.”

Shaw, from Witney, Oxfordshire, had been staying with a friend in San Pedro on Lake Atitlán, 45 miles west of the capital, Guatemala City, and was last seen on 4 March. She was reported missing the following day.

The Lucie Blackman Trust said Shaw had left the Eco Hotel in Mayachik, near San Pedro and San Juan, on 5 March at 1.37am, but then returned at 3.19am.

She left again for the last time at 5.23am, heading in the direction of the lake.

The trust said that at this point she had a puppy with her but no other possessions.

The puppy was later found alone, shivering at the highest lookout of Indian Nose, a volcano overlooking Lake Atitlán, San Pedro and San Juan between 5am and 6am on Friday morning, the trust said.

A hand drum, known as a hang, previously reported to be in Shaw’s possession, was left behind and has been located, the trust added.

Shaw had been travelling since September last year and previously visited Mexico and California.

The UK Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman reported missing in Guatemala and are in contact with the local authorities.”