Police are hunting three “young men” involved in an aggravated robbery at a petrol station in Christchurch this morning.

A police spokesman told Chris Lynch Media they were called to the Centaurus Road premises about 9.20am, after the trio assaulted a staff member and stole cash and items before fleeing.

The attack happened at the Mobil service station.

Chris Lynch Media has been told a hammer was used in the attack – but police didn’t confirm this.

“The staff member was treated for minor-to-moderate injuries and police are making enquiries to locate the offenders.”

A police patrol car spotted the offenders’ vehicle a short time later and tracked it to Woolston, where it was found abandoned the police spokesman said.

It’s understood the vehicle was speeding up to 160 kph.

Police did not provide a description of the offenders.

Meanwhile, youths who smashed their way into a Caltex Service station on Riccarton Road on Saturday morning remain at large.

Police did not provide descriptions of those offenders either.