A popular 137-year-old bowling and social club was destroyed after two devastating arson attacks within 48 hours.
Eccleston Bowling Club, in St Helens, fell victim to yobs who torched the building, almost certainly leaving it beyond repair.
The first blaze was started in the early hours of Monday morning, at 1.50am, but around 48 hours later, just before midnight on Tuesday, firebugs struck again.
It is the fourth arson attack in recent years at the Knowsley Road venue , which was described by a heartbroken club boss as being "completely gone."
The club, owned by Heineken, was previously rebuilt after one fire, but the likelihood of another huge transformation appear unlikely.
Detectives are probing the crimes, and have appealed for help to trace a black Fiesta seen driving suspiciously near the club.
A taxi driver, who first spotted Tuesday's blaze, and telephoned 999, said the wanton destruction was a massive blow to the community.
Danny Guest told the ECHO: "I was driving up Knowsley Road, and initially thought it was fog before I smelled burning.
"Smoke was billowing out when I came round the corner.
"Then I heard some popping sounds and a big orange glow.
"The club is popular and I really feel for the members who have been through this before.
"We take a lot of customers there, and there's a lot of elderly people who rely on it.
"I don't know the motivation behind the arson, but it's only the community that will suffer."
Firefighters sent four engines to the blaze on Tuesday night, using an aerial appliance, and spent about two-and-a-half hours extinguishing it.
Crews remained for another four hours damping down the scene.
The roof partially collapsed while the flames raged.
Detectives are appealing for information to solve both arsons.
Contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC.
You can also call 101, quoting references 20000148774 (9/3/20) and 20000153342 (11/3/20), or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
