The parents of a 23-year-old British woman who has gone missing in Guatemala say they are “desperately worried”.

A search has begun for Catherine Shaw, from Witney, Oxfordshire, who had been travelling with a friend in the country for two weeks when she vanished.

Her friend woke up on Tuesday morning to find she had disappeared from the eco-hotel where they were staying.

Her belongings including her passport and mobile phone were left behind, according to the Lucie Blackman Trust, which supports British people in trouble abroad.

In a statement, her parents appealed for help in finding her.

Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions Show all 13 1 /13 Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions Fuego volcano erupts at sunrise. More than 2,000 people have been evacuated from several villages due to the strong eruption EPA Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions Fuego volcano is located 50 kilometers west of the Guatemalan capital AP Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions A family evacuates their home EPA Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions Guatemalan authorities declared a red alert Reuters Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions Residents of several communities nearby the erupting Fuego volcano, stay at a temporary shelter AFP/Getty Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions A provisional shelter Reuters Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions A cloud of red ash hovers over a highway AP Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions Children inside a provisional shelter Reuters Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions TOPSHOT - A general view shows Fuego volcano erupting as seen from Alotenango, a municipality in Sacatepequez department, 65 km southwest of Guatemala City on November 19, 2018. - Guatemalan authorities on Monday declared a red alert after the Fuego volcano erupted again, forcing almost 3,000 residents to flee. (Photo by JOHAN ORDONEZ / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX *** AFP Contributor#AFP AFP/Getty Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions Residents of several communities arrive at a temporary shelter in Escuintla AFP/Getty Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions Steam rises from Fuego volcano Reuters Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions Soldiers stand by to help those residents who wish to evacuate their homes AP Guatemala's Fuego volcano: thousands flee after eruptions Fuego volcano erupting, as seen from San Juan Alotenango, outside of Guatemala City Reuters

“She has always been really good about keeping in touch and informing us of her whereabouts and activities,” they said.

“So this is unusual behaviour which gives us great concern for her safety. Please help us to find her.”

In a video released by the trust, her mother urged Ms Shaw to get in touch as they needed to know she was happy and well, while her father described his daughter as of “slim build, and about 5ft 7in tall”.

He added: “Your friends, your family are all really worried about you. Please come home, sweetheart.”

Ms Shaw and her friend had been staying in the San Pedro, Lake Atitlan area.

She had already been to Mexico and California during her trip to America after leaving Britain in September.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed they were supporting the family of a British woman and were “in contact with the local authorities as they search for her”.

The Lucie Blackman Trust's chief executive, Matthew Searle, stressed how the “first few days are vitally important” because those who may have seen something could still be in the area.

“We urge anyone who may have any information, no matter how small, to get in touch as soon as they can. They could hold the key to bringing Catherine home,” he added.

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The trust said members of her family are travelling to San Pedro to join the search this weekend.