Hotel calls feng shui expert to lift curse

St David's Hotel and Spa has views over Cardiff Bay, a private bar and satellite television in every room. It is also cursed, apparently.

The four football teams that have stayed at the five-star hotel before playing at the Millennium Stadium have lost. In an effort to shake the bad luck, the hotel has called in a feng shui expert.

Paul Darby, from Nottingham, has already cleansed a locker room at the stadium, which appeared to doom to defeat the team that used it.

Mr Darby claims he helped pave the way for Arsenal's FA Cup final win two years ago - despite the team using the unlucky locker room - after he scattered incense and sea salt, rang bells, chanted a Buddhist ritual and led a horse around the pitch.

James Turner, a manager at the hotel, said: "We have international and national teams staying with us and unfortunately all the football teams have been on a losing streak."

On Sunday, Arsenal and Manchester United meet at the Millennium Stadium in the FA Community Shield, but Mr Turner would not say whether either team would stay at the hotel.

But he said that bosses hoped Mr Darby would lift the jinx on the hotel.