This was the thrilling moment employees of a jewellery shop fought back and drove out an armed robber.

The incident occurred at Nagappa Jewellers in southern India's Sringeri on August 12 and was captured by the shop’s CCTV cameras.

A man, wearing a mask, walked in, carrying a bag.

He bought a small trinket and on the way out, leapt over the counter, pulling out a machete from the bag.

He threatened three women employees, who were manning the counter, and started stuffing the jewellery into his bag.

But two other employees rushed to thwart him.

While the male employee snatched the bag and tried to grab him, the woman employee picked up a chair and threw it at him.

Unnerved by the fightback, the man left his bag and machete behind and fled.

A shop representative said the employees managed to save most of the jewels, though the robber fled with three gold chains he was holding in his hand.

As the man ran out, shop employees and passersby tried to catch him in vain and the man managed to flee.

Sringeri police have registered a complaint and have launched a manhunt to find him.