Two New Zealand men who turned to prayer when their microlight's engine died were saved when they landed next to a giant Jesus billboard.

Grant Stubbs and Owen Wilson were on a trip across the South Island when they ran out of fuel, the Marlborough Express newspaper said.

Stubbs said: "I turned to O B [Wilson] and asked what we should do. He said: `You just pray, Grant.' " As the engine died, they spotted a small grassy clearing and managed to glide in next to a six-metre sign reading "Jesus is Lord - The Bible."

The sign had been erected by a local couple. "When we saw that, we started laughing," Stubbs said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE