I don't think I have ever seen a Trash Can inside Thunderbird. You delete messages by selecting them then deleting, using a toolbar button, the keyboard button or possibly a right-click and then choosing Delete from the pop-up menu.

Ordinarily, deleted messages are put into a Trash folder, so can usually be rescued if deleted in error, simply by dragging back to the appropriate folder.

By default, each account has its own Trash folder, though you may be able to nominate a common Trash folder if that's your preference. Under account settings, there's a section called Server Settings, which for IMAP-connected accounts allows you to designate which folder is to be used for trash. The trash folder in your IMAP-connected accounts may have another name, such as Deleted or Bin, as set by the server in question.

Right-click on a Trash folder usually offers an option to empty it, meaning that its contents will be permanently deleted. If that option doesn't appear, you can use ctrl+a to select all, then hit a delete button or key.

Thank you Zenos. I couldn't find any Trash folder on my account so I set one up (marvellous for me!!) but the deleted messages aren't going into it. What am I doing wrong? Regards Pat

Are you using Pop or IMAP mail account? Right click on mail account name in Folder Pane and Select 'Settings' or Tools > Account Settings or 3bar menu icon > Options > Account Settings

select 'Server Settings' for the account name Top right 'Server Type': Pop or IMAP?

Are you viewing all of your folders? View > Folders > All

Think it is a Pop mail account although the server settings do not show this. Viewed folders, nothing. Tried directing deleted messages to a folder, nothing. Are my messages building up somewhere or do they automatically get purges when deleted? I can delete the deleted items so is this the answer? Thank you

Pop mail accounts have a 'Deleted' folder for deleted emails.

re: Think it is a Pop mail account although the server settings do not show this. Using info supplied in my previous post, you should see something like the image below. Server Type: is at the top. Your Server name will be different.

If you use the same settings: 'Leave messages on the server' - this leaves a copy on the server. 'for at most xx days' - will delete any emails older than xx days off the server. 'Until I delete them' - will delete any emails you delete in Thunderbird off the server.

Any email you delete will be 'marked as deleted' and from your point of view, the email disappears from the folder and reappears in 'Deleted' folder. In reality, it is still in the folder, hidden from view and 'marked as deleted'. When you 'compact' the folder, all traces of any deleted emails are erased.

to compact a folder: right click on a folder and select 'compact'

to compact all folders: File > Compact folders

Even the 'Deleted' folder should be emptied and compacted on a regular basis as well. Compacting - what it does and why it is important:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_Tips_:_Compacting_Folders

Thank you sooooo much, greatly appreciated and a good learning experience. Regards Pat