The manager of Dewars Centre expressed anger at drivers using the building’s underground car park as a ”skid pan”, saying elderly customers are afraid to use it.

Danny Fitzsimmons closed the car park after taking advice from Tayside Fire Brigade, then staff began a major clean-up of the soot-filled interior of the building.

He said, “Someone drove a Ford Escort into one of the pillars in the underground car park.

“Either the collision exploded the petrol tank or somebody then torched it. Mutch’s, who took the car away, seemed to think the latter would be the case, so it would appear it was a deliberate act.”

The fire brought down cabling for power and emergency lighting, and blackened the car park with soot and smoke.

Mr Fitzsimmons said, ”Almost every nook and cranny is covered in soot.”

A police spokesman confirmed an investigation is taking place, revealing the car was stolen from a Perth housing estate.

He said, “The rink is an area where young motorists sometimes gather with their cars. It may be that one of them may have seen something that can assist inquiries.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 01738 621141.

Mr Fitzsimmons added, “We have an ongoing problem here with joyriders and vehicles which use the underground car park as a skid pan. We’ve complained to the police on numerous occasions about this, but I think they’ve got a problem because it’s a public car park, so they can’t move people on.

“This is just the latest episode in an ongoing saga. There’s always something happening down there. A lot of the older members of the bowling club are frightened to go into the car park in the wintertime because of the people who congregate there.”

Despite the cleaning programme, Dewars Centre is managing to maintain business as usual inside the building, with events such as skating still taking place.

Insurance issues are being discussed with owners Perth and Kinross Leisure, and PKL’s owners Perth and Kinross Council, but it’s hoped the car park will reopen later this week.