Manhunt underway as string of supermarkets robbed at knifepoint

A trio of knifemen are still on the loose after allegedly robbing three supermarkets and stealing a car. 

Police are on the hunt for the three men who are believed to be travelling around Melbourne's outer suburbs in a stolen white Mercedes hatchback. 

There are unconfirmed reports at least one person has been stabbed and the Victoria Police air wing has been dispatched to assist in the search.

The men first targeted a IGA supermarket in Cheltenham, in the city's south, where they leapt the counter and assaulted a worker at 4pm. 

It is reported that the same men then immediately headed to a Dockendorff grocer on Cochran Street in Brighton 9.8km away for a second robbery.

A third supermarket in Burwood is also believed to have been targeted by the men.

A police helicopter is in the sky above Melbourne trying to locate the men who are still at large. 

 More to come.