A couple of backpackers who were robbed at gunpoint as they drove a motorbike on a dusty road in Guatemala have released terrifying footage of the incident that was caught on a headcam.

The footage is shot from the perspective of Heidi Burton and her companion Dan Landsborough as they ride along a dirt track between Santiago Atitlan and San Pedro La Laguna, in Solola, on 10 April.

Seconds into the video, a man wearing a balaclava and pointing a gun at the couple appears in the distance.

Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

As the pair stops, another man wielding a machete appears from out of the bushes beside them.

The men then snatch rings from Ms Burton’s fingers and hack off a bag containing money, an iPod and iPhone that was strapped to the motorbike.

Ms Burton, 34-year-old illustrator from Cambridge, told the Mirror that she felt "dread" when the first bandito pointed the gun at her and Mr Landsborough.

"I felt violated, being searched and having rings pulled off my fingers by a masked, armed robber, but the feeling of not knowing how far it will go was the worst thing," she told the newspaper.

She added: "Dan's motorcycle tank bag was cut off with a machete.

"It contained a fake wallet with expired cards and a real $100 note and a few electronic items such as an e-reader, iPhone and iPod.

"Luckily we had hidden our bank cards, money, and other valuables elsewhere.

"Apparently this road is notorious for robberies though we hadn't seen any reports online for a few years and people we met had used it with no issues."

Heidi began backpacking in Central America in November, and met Dan in Mexico.

She added: "I would still recommend people visit beautiful Guatemala and not be put off by crimes like this."