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British mail workers have started the first of two 48-hour walkouts in a protest over pay and fears of job cuts. The strike started at noon after last-minute talks between Royal Mail managers and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) had failed to reach a deal. A second two-day strike by the CWU's 130,000 members is scheduled to begin on Monday. Customers have been warned that the strikes mean there will be no deliveries until next Thursday. It is estimated that the two walkouts will cost industry millions of pounds. At the centre of the dispute is the CWU's objection to the Royal Mail's 2.5% pay offer and modernization plans, which it says will put about 40,000 jobs at risk.