The body of a British teacher allegedly murdered in Qatar was found in the desert, it has been claimed.

Lauren Patterson, 24, was reportedly last seen with two men, including an ex-boyfriend, at a nightclub in Qatar’s capital, Doha, on Saturday night.

Her body was later recovered and two men, said to be locals, were arrested over her murder.

A friend told The Times that Miss Patterson and her ex-boyfriend broke up several months ago after they had talked about getting engaged.

Amid confusing reports, there were suggestions from friends that Miss Patterson had left a nightclub at the five-star hotel La Cigale with a group of Qatari men and had texted friends to say she was being taken to the wrong house.

One close friend also posted a message on Twitter saying: ‘Lauren was raped and brutally murdered. Her body was found in the dumpsters behind La Cigale.’

However, the duty manager of La Cigale claimed police have not asked to examine CCTV footage or question staff at the hotel.

Sources have now told The Times that she was found in the desert.

Doha police said they could not confirm whether Miss Patterson had died, what had happened to her or the progress of their investigation.

Miss Patterson is believed to have been killed hours after flying back to the Middle East from her grandmother’s funeral.

News of her disappearance had prompted her family and friends to launch a frantic campaign on Facebook and other social media to find her.

But 40 hours later her boyfriend, James Grima, posted a message saying she was dead.

Miss Paterson had flown back to the Middle East on Friday and was a primary teacher at Newton British School in Doha.

On Sunday, her boyfriend Mr Grima, an IT technician and DJ based in Malta, posted an appeal to track her down after becoming concerned about her disappearance.

The alert went viral as hundreds joined the search before it emerged Miss Patterson had been found dead.

On Facebook, he said: ‘I can’t believe that it had to end this way Lauren, I really don’t.

‘I was so happy that I had finally found someone that could change my life so much, and in such a positive way too...

‘Rest In Peace babe ... I will always look up at the sky cause you always were the brightest star and always will be.’

Mr Grima added: 'I love you so much babe, I really do and I can’t get over the fact that you were taken away so cruelly, it really breaks my heart to think about it.

'I know you’re watching over us, wherever you are, and I know that I will meet you again one day.'

Qatar, which will host the World Cup in 2022, is considered to be one of the safest spots in the Middle East for expatriates.

But last November an American pre-school teacher, 40-year-old Jennifer Brown, was allegedly killed there by a Kenyan security guard.

He will face trial next month and could be given the death penalty if convicted.