Police are investigating the attempted armed robbery of a tavern in Hope Island early this morning.

At around 3.15am a male security guard observed damage to the door of a licensed premises on Masthead Way and went inside where he disturbed a man who was armed with a firearm.

The man threatened the guard with a firearm and forced him out of the building.

A second male security guard who attended was also threatened with a firearm and forced out.

No one was physically injured and nothing was reported stolen.

The man then fled the scene in a vehicle which was observed travelling southbound along Oxley Drive, Runaway Bay.

Police located the vehicle and firearm a short time later abandoned on Olsen Avenue, Coombabah.

The man is described as having a proportionate build, approximately 180cm tall and wearing a balaclava, dark coloured jacket, dark full length pants and dark gloves.