Inmates at two of the largest correctional facilities in Mexico have carried out peaceful protests at the same time to highlight the extortion practices going on behind prison walls.

Prisoners climbed to the roofs of the Topo Chico and Apodaca prisons in the north Mexican state of Nuevo Leon and used blankets to display messages to the outside world.

Protestors' banners said that they are no longer willing to pay protection fees and suffer ill-treatment at the hands of the prison security hierarchy, identified as Lieutenant Mozcorro, Genaro Sanchez and Rosa Manuela Felix.

Prisoners accuse the prison chiefs of supporting an organised cartel that uses a protection racket to extort money and belongings from inmates.

Convicts in Apodaca prison went to the roof and started protesting around 3.30pm, particularly against state prison director Rosa Manuela Felix and the arrival of new prison officers in charge.

Inmates in Topo Chico staged their rooftop protest at the same time in order to highlight the extortion racket going on.

According to a state official, police were sent to the correctional facilities to observe the protests and reported that nobody was hurt.

Traffic in both areas was affected due to the increased police presence.

Visitation rights at Apodaca prison were cancelled and around 20 people were left outside the prison gates hoping to visit loved ones that day.

State secretary Arturo Gonzalez said that the protests passed peacefully and that he will discuss matters with the prisoners in order to reach an amicable solution.