A deer startled a pharmacist and their customer when it walked into a drugstore.

Smartphone footage recorded in the city of Baoding in Hebei, China, shows the puzzled animal staring blankly at the counter and sticking its tongue out after it entered the pharmacy on February 19.

The customer, identified only as Mr Du said that he and the deer exchanged looks for about two minutes before it ran out of the store.

He explained how on the way out it reportedly hit a man, whom he later helped get back on his feet.

The pharmacist told how the deer had been circling the store for some time before it entered.

He said he was relieved that the animal did not knock over the medicine on the shelves and cause a mess.