Violence quelled at Goulburn jail

Prison officers at NSW's Goulburn jail have reportedly fired live bullets and used tear gas to break up violence in the exercise yard of the maximum security wing.

Officers were forced to fire warning shots after two inmates failed to stop fighting in the yard on Tuesday, News Corp reports.

Teargas was then used and a further fight erupted between two inmates as prisoners were being led back to their cells. Prison sources told News Corp up to 25 prisoners were present during the violence.

Corrective Services acknowledged the violence but insisted it was not religiously motivated following claims that radical Islamists were trying to force other prisoners to accept their extremist views.

NSW Police have been notified and investigations are continuing.