A PRESTIGIOUS country club was targeted by arsonists waging a terror campaign against two businessmen.

The Chinese restaurant at Formby’s Shorrocks Hill Country Club – Oriental@Shorrocks – was destroyed after being fire bombed in the early hours yesterday.

Above the restaurant was the offices of The Ascot Group, a firm of property developers owned by entrepreneur Terry Riley.

It is believed the offices, containing files, computers and stacks of paperwork, was the intended target.

The arson is the 16th attack against 40-year-old Mr Riley and his business associate and friend, security boss John Ball.

It is believed local gangsters are trying to extort money from the pair.

They have both seen their homes shot at several times, businesses torched late at night, and attacks on their relatives.

The vendetta began at the turn of the year and has been growing in ferocity over recent weeks.

The Shorrocks Hill Country Club complex, which dubs itself “Liverpool’s Finest Night Spot”, is owned by Mr Riley and the various businesses in the grounds are sub-let.

He took it over from Mr Ball, in a £4m deal in 2007.

Yesterday, police and fire investigators were examining the club, in Lifeboat Road, Formby.