A man wielding an axe chased customers through a branch of Tesco in Purley, south London.

Shoppers fled as he burst through the supermarket's door waving a hatchet.

One woman can be seen in CCTV footage of the incident, ditching her trolley in an attempt to get away as a man dressed in a high-vis jacket desperately ushers everyone out.

The footage was posted on Facebook following the incident.

Police are now hunting for the unknown man, who kept the bottom half of his face covered.

CCTV footage captured the moment a man wielding an axe chased customers through a Tesco store in Purley, Croydon, south London, on 23 January, 2019. (Facebook)

“The suspect left prior to police arrival," a spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police said.

They added: “Officers attended and were informed the man had caused damage to the store. A search of the area took place but he was not found. Enquiries are ongoing to trace him.”