Firefighters were nearly killed when a gas cylinder exploded as they tackled a blaze in a workmen's trench.

Power was lost to 6,000 homes and businesses as fire crews - faced with a dramatic catalogue of events - fought the blaze in Benfleet.

The series of disasters began while workmen repaired 33,000 volt electric cables in Essex Way.

It was believed a small fire was started by a blowtorch, and spread to the electric cables.

Workers managed to escape the trench as the timber frame surrounding them caught light.

But as fire crews began to tackle the blaze a Mini drove past - driving over the foam hose and ripping it from a firefighter's hand.

The metal nozzle was dragged down the road and smashed to bits, but the car failed to stop.

A full evacuation of the area was carried out as thick black toxic smoke filled the air. The blaze was allowed to burn until firefighters had confirmation the power supply had been switched off.

Leading fireman Justin Johnston, of Hadleigh fire, said: "This was a dangerous situation. We could not rush in and we had to make sure that the power had been shut off."

As police closed the road, firefighters continued their battle to control the blaze with blankets of foam.

A cylinder then exploded, flying from the trench across the road and narrowly missing the men. Firefighter Justin Benson-Ryal was just five foot from the cylinder when it crashed to the ground.

Martyn Hodder, station commander at Southend, said: "When the fire started, it quickly spread to the electric cables. They became well ignited and caused an extremely serious fire in the trench."

About two hours later, electricity workers were allowed back in to the area. There were no injuries. Power was restored to homes within 45 minutes of the fault being reported.

An Eastern Energy spokesman said: "We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers and we restored the service as quickly as possible."

A full fire service investigation into the blaze, which took hold at about 10.20am yesterday, will be carried out.

The road has now been reopened, with traffic directed away from the area adjacent to the trench until timber supports can be replaced.

Extinguished - firefighters smother the blaze in foam

Picture: Essex Fire and Rescue Service

(Right) Frazzled - the smouldering transformer in Essex Way

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.