This January will mark 45 years since the IRA bombed the Texaco oil refinery on Canvey – an explosion which miraculously resulted in no fatalities.

The Texaco plant was targeted on January 17, 1979, when the IRA planted a bomb next to a tank containing aviation fuel.

Echo: Fire hazard - fuel spills out of the tank following the bombing attackFire hazard - fuel spills out of the tank following the bombing attack (Image: Newsquest)

Fortunately, when the bomb went off at 10.40pm, the tank was only half full. An 18 inch hole tore though the tank and the fuel gushed out into a safety moat. As a result it failed to catch fire.

Echo: Aftermath - police at the siteAftermath - police at the site (Image: Newsquest)

In the aftermath of the attack police, bomb and forensic experts descended on the refinery site. They scoured the area for metal and shrapnel.

A group of local metal detector volunteers assisted the police and used their equipment to make sure the site was safe.

On the same night as the Canvey bomb the IRA also targeted Greenwich gas works in London, next to the Blackwall tunnel. Again, the explosion caused damage but claimed no lives.

Echo: Scene of the blast - the bomb was left next to the big tank to the left in the photoScene of the blast - the bomb was left next to the big tank to the left in the photo (Image: Newsquest)

Essex Police received no advance warning about the bomb but an anonymous phone call was later made to the Press Association.

After the explosion it was deemed a miracle that the IRA had planted the bomb next to the wrong tank.

Echo: Scouring the site - metal detectorists scour the bomb blast area to help the police find evidenceScouring the site - metal detectorists scour the bomb blast area to help the police find evidence (Image: Newsquest)

Beside the targeted tank was a petrol tank containing 600,000 gallons of fuel. If this had gone up, the end result would have been disastrous.

At the time of the bombing a fifth of Britain’s oil refining capacity was done at Canvey.

Echo: March - some of the thousands of Canvey residents who protested days after the bombingMarch - some of the thousands of Canvey residents who protested days after the bombing (Image: Newsquest)

Canvey councillor Dot Shaw said at the time: “It is a miracle we weren’t blown off the face of the earth.”

A few days after the incident 3,000 Canvey residents marched to the Texaco plant waving placards to demand extra security in the wake of the bomb.

Echo: Canvey residents pictured in 1982 after a bomb hoax at the Methane Terminal on the island. An Irish contract painter working on the site planted a suitcase with Irish Airline stickers on it. Police and the bomb squad were called and declared a major incident. The hoax resulted in one arrest.Canvey residents pictured in 1982 after a bomb hoax at the Methane Terminal on the island. An Irish contract painter working on the site planted a suitcase with Irish Airline stickers on it. Police and the bomb squad were called and declared a major incident. The hoax resulted in one arrest. (Image: Newsquest)