A man has been arrested after a handgun was seized from a car in Cork city this morning.

Gardaí they received a report of a suspicious car in the Knocknaheeny area of the city at around 1:30am and officers from Gurranabraher station found it a short time later.

During a search they found a suspected handgun and a jerry can of petrol.

The car was also fitted out with false registration plates.

A man in his early 40s was arrested at the scene and is currently detained at Mayfield Garda Station

Garda Superintendent Michael Comyns of the Serious Crime Investigation Unit in Cork city said: "I want to thank the members of the public who picked up the phone and called us when they spotted something they didn’t think was normal.”

“The community should be commended for their actions and as a result, we have possibly saved a life here today.”

The gun has been sent for technical analysis.