Residents of several Perth suburbs have been left gagging after thousands of tonnes of sewage leaked across their area.

The deluge of human waste began on Friday in the southern suburb of Spearwood after a sewer pipe burst in Beaconsfield.

While the stomach-churning leak had been halted by late on Monday, pools of excrement had crept into the popular tourist area of Fremantle.

“People should stay out of the affected sites and heed warning signage with security and barricades in place for the community’s protection,” Western Australia’s Water Corporation said in an alert.

“People should also not undertake any water recreational activities, including fishing and crabbing, in the Swan River along Burke Street in Alfred Cove and Dunkley Avenue in Applecross and within the harbour at Fremantle Sailing Club due to the related minor overflows.”

The sewage pooling on a Fremantle sports field. Photo: Nine Network

Earlier, Water Corporation spokesman Dean Stacey said the ongoing issue was “quite complex”. The initial leak caused smaller and related overflows in neighbouring suburbs, which then flowed into the Swan River.l

“The repair in Spearwood is quite complex. Instead of being able to weld a band around that pipeline, we’re having to prefabricate a new section of pipeline,” he said.

With aerial images showing pools of human excrement pooling in a sports field in Perth’s south, locals described the ugly fallout.

“[I] Went out to look and you could smell it,” one resident said.

“Smells like a toilet.”

The Water Corporation said repairing the leak would take some time.

“Given the complexity of the wastewater network, there remains a risk of further localised overflows,” it said.

The Water Corporation is liaising with WA Department of Health, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to manage the public health and environmental impacts of the leak.

Anyone who feels unwell or has symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and nausea, is urged to seek medical advice.