CCTV footage has emerged from China of a male motorist slapping a female gas station attendant who had tried to persuade the man to wear a mask as tensions rise during the coronavirus outbreak.

Video filmed in the Zhuxi county in central Hubei Province on January 30 shows the male customer and a female worker, who is wearing a mask, having an intense argument at a petrol station. Another gas station worker in a red jacket watches on nearby.

The video shows the worker being dragged away by her colleague after she was shoulder-barged by the man. But the unhappy motorist then followed her to the office and slaps her face.

The worker was reportedly trying to persuade the motorist to wear a mask based on the regulations during the current coronavirus outbreak.

However, the motorist swore at her and struck her up before driving away.

According to reports, police detained the man for 10 days and fined him 500 yuan (£55).

（视频由竹溪警方提供）1月30日凌晨2时许，车牌号为陕A19CX8的驾驶人在湖北竹溪县北环路一加油站加油时，不按规定佩戴口罩，工作人员遂对其进行劝导提醒。让人气愤的是，该驾驶人不依不饶，追打加油站工作人员，后驾车逃离。2月1日，竹溪警方发布通报，该男子被行拘10日、罚款500元。