Attempted robbery by three young men foiled by shop assistant more than twice their age

Security cameras have captured the moment a 64-year-old service station attendant in Coffs Harbour chased out three attackers with a wooden bat.

Keith Butler was about to get robbed when he immediately leapt into action, the former boxer and black belt karate student grappling with one of the masked men.

"I'm small, the thing is people who are small react in that way, the way you come up in life, you don't let people bully you," he said.

The three men were armed with knives and bats and demanded cash.

When Mr Butler scared them off, he chased them out of the store with a wooden bat. All three are still on the run.

"I'd like to say to the three guys if they're watching this, get yourselves a job, you'll earn more money," he said.