The owners of a celebrity haunt once frequented by A-list superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger have become embroiled in a gangland feud.
Terry Riley and John Ball, who own the Shorrocks Hill Country Club in Formby, have had a string of their properties targeted by local gangsters.
Schwarzenegger, now Governor of California, used to socialise at the establishment with Scouse stuntman and close pal Terry O'Neil.
But the posh venue was petrol bombed earlier this year, as gangsters waged a violent campaign against the two businessmen.
And the two entrepreneurs are said to be "living in fear" after their pub, The Cabbage Inn, was attacked by arsonists
The boozer on Fleetwoods Lane, Netherton, was firebombed just after 3.15am on Tuesday, forcing the landlady and her partner to flee for their lives.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said: "The landlady and her partner scrambled down the back stairs into the yard where the man called fire fighters on his mobile.
"He cut his hands climbing over the yard wall and firefighters later removed the gate to free his partner.
"The dog woke them up to alert them to the fire and was later rescued from the building unharmed.
"The landlady was treated at the scene for shock."
Detectives today confirmed the arson was the latest in a long line of attacks against entrepreneurs Terry Riley and John Ball.
The first attack in the terror campaign against Terry Riley and his friend and business associate John Ball came in January when Mr Riley's home, in Elm Avenue, Crosby, was shot at in a drive-by.
An unexploded petrol bomb was also found next to the 4x4 parked on the driveway.
Within a month Mr Ball's house, in Selworthy Road, Birkdale, was shot at for the first time and the office of one of his businesses - EEC Security - was torched on the same night.
The Shorrocks Hill Country Club, in Formby, which was owned by Mr Ball and is now owned by Mr Riley, was petrol-bombed in early April before the campaign took a more sinister twist.
At the weekend, the #1m Birkdale home of security boss Mr Ball was shot at for the second time this year in a drive-by. The property in Selworthy Road is next door but one to the home of soccer legend Kenny Dalglish.
Mr Ball was out at the time of the latest shooting, but his wife was in and his children were in bed at the time, as up to five shots were fired.
Since the start of May, Mr Riley's parents, sister and in-laws have all been targeted at home.
Then when Mr Riley was driving along Southport's Coastal Road, two men on a motorbike sped by, allegedly waving a gun at him.
A source close to the Terry and John revealed: "The pair of them are completely terrified of what could happen next.
"John and Terry just want to get on with their lives but because of their success, some gangsters are trying to extort money out of them.
"They have tried to stand firm against the thugs but things are getting out of control.
"They have had a lot of their businesses targeted in the last few months and they have been shot at on numerous occassions."
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