Land Rover owner Mark Gray has enjoyed seeing the shocked reactions as he drives around Dublin

An arresting sight is turning heads all across Dublin.

Rush-hour commuters are double-taking at an apparent incursion of a PSNI Land Rover into the Irish capital.

Emblazoned with the distinctive blue and yellow chequers, the white vehicle features the Crimestoppers logo and riot-proof grilles.

But puzzled onlookers wondering if a patrol has strayed too far down the M1, or if cross-border policing has reached another historic milestone, soon spot a clue with the Cork-registered licence plates.

The replica is owned by 24-7 Security, a Dublin-headquartered company that boasts overseas embassies and the Department of Foreign Affairs among its clients.

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Managing director Mark Gray (52) said he had the Land Rover mocked up in the armoured PSNI style to get a "shock, horror" reaction on his rounds.

"People take notice of it, there's no doubt about it," he said.

"Passers-by have been nearly falling out the window of their cars to get a look at it.

Expand Close Police Service of a replica Northern Ireland (PSNI) Land Rover on the streets of Harold's Cross, Dublin. / Facebook

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"Everywhere it goes it's getting a weird reaction. It has been phenomenal."

The send-up is inspired by countless images of the PSNI Land Rovers being flashed across news reports worldwide during contentious events north of the border down through the years.

"I remember them being very prevalent," said Mr Gray.

"It was really to create that shock-horror reaction, that people would take notice and think. 'is that one of the PSNI jeeps down from the North'.

"It's getting noticed everywhere - the amount of people around Dublin who have said to me about it is amazing."

Having ventured as far as Newry a couple of times, Mr Gray said he wanted to explore more of Northern Ireland, but vowed to leave the vehicle at home.

"I've been meaning to get to Belfast for a long time, but I just haven't made it. I want to go and see the Giant's Causeway as well," he said.

"But I don't plan to take the Land Rover too far up the M1."

Belfast Telegraph