THE chairman of Eccleston Bowling Club says the burning down of the 137-year-old venue has 'destroyed a hub of the community forever'.
On Monday a fire partially destroyed the building on Knowsley Road, however last night, Tuesday, March 10, another fire tore through what was left of the club.
Four fire engines and an aerial appliance were sent to club at around 11.35pm and crews battled the blaze until 6.20am this morning.
Julian Cliffe, 80, chairman of the club, said: "We are absolutely gutted about this. This club has been running for 137 years and now a person or something has destroyed a hub of the community hub forever.
"I have not been down yet, but I believe it is completely gone. I've been a member for 45 years and it is used by different clubs, groups and for events pretty much every day.
"This will be a huge loss for the community and it is irreplaceable really.
This was the building after Monday's fire
"The building didn't belong to us, Heineken own it and the Black Bull next door, so I doubt they will rebuild it.
"A lot of the members are pensioners too, so it's not just a building that is gone, but their way ofgetting out and socialising.
"This happened three and a half years ago and we always wondered who did it, but I hope if someone did it this time that they struggle sleeping."
A spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said "severe damage" has been caused to the property and it is not yet known how the fire started.
No injuries have been reported.
After last night's blaze
A spokesman from the service said: "At the height of the fire, we had four engines and an aerial appliance at the scene and the incident was sectorised (split into different sections for firefighting purposes).
"Crews used high pressure hose reel jets, two main branches and a ground monitor to tackle the fire.
"The fire was extinguished by around 2.15am but hot spotting and damping down continued.
"We left the scene at 6.19am on March 11.
"An investigation into the cause was launched and the incident was left with Merseyside Police, who also attended the incident to deal with traffic management.
"There are not thought to have been any injuries but the building was severely damaged, with a partial collapse midway through firefighting.
"There was an incident at the same location on March 9, 2020."
If you have any information about the fire, contact police on 101.
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