A manhunt is underway after a woman was attacked with a machete during a carjacking at a petrol station in Melbourne’s south-east about 6.35pm yesterday.

The 29-year-old was approached by three males – at least one of whom had a machete – at a service station in Dandenong as she was returning to her car after paying for petrol.

One of males demanded her keys and tried to snatch them from her, but police say she put up a fight and was struck on the arm by the machete in the scuffle.

The males then stole and left the scene in her SUV.

The woman was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The men arrived at the petrol station in a white Ford EcoSport with no registration plates, pulling up behind the woman as she was putting petrol in her car.

The first man is described as being a Caucasian, approximately 14 to 20 years old and having worn a black hooded top with the hood up, tan-coloured trousers, white socks and black thongs with a white Nike logo.

The second man is described as being Caucasian, approximately 14 to 20 years old and wearing a grey hooded top with the hood up and draw strings tied tight across his face, a dark-coloured face mask, dark-coloured cap, black puffer vest, black trousers, black socks and striped Adidas thongs.

The third is described as being Caucasian, approximately 14 to 20 years old and wearing a light coloured/grey hooded top with hood up, a dark-coloured beanie, grey tracksuit pants with a logo on the upper left leg and white runners.

A fourth offender remained in the driver’s seat of the Ford for the duration of the incident.