Why do people keep asking this same old question. Because that is how Thunderbird works is the answer, but why it is of any importance at all is something I can not work out.

Sorry, not been on here before and when I searched for an answer I didn't find one! I ask because it's frustrating, that's why. I already know what is is the message, I don't need to see it again and when I'm trying to quickly delete multiple messages it's hugely annoying to have to then go and close them all down!

If it freaks you out to see them appear in the Message Pane when doing this, press F8 to toggle the Message Pane off when deleting in bulk. Not that there is a reason to freak out but this is an option for those of you that do. Press F8 again to toggle the Message Pane back on when the coast is clear and you feel safe again.

Thank you. I'll give that a try next time.

Ok I am lost, close them down where? Airmail discusses the preview pane, but each would be displayed there until the next, so there is no close them all down. Are multiple tabs or windows opening? If so how are you selecting mail to delete it? Single click to select double click to open springs to my mind.

I single click to select a message, then using Ctrl I single click several more. Then suddenly thunderbird opens multiple tabs with all the messages I've selected. It's these tabs that I've then got to close down. I've tried taking off the preview pane as Airmail suggested but this does not stop all the tabs opening. Sometimes I get away with it and the tabs don't open but I'd say 80% of the time they do. It's just annoying when you're happily selecting away on the inbox and suddenly it's opened all the tabs and you're taken away from the inbox to the last email opened.

Single clicking a message should not open a message in a tab. It takes a double click to do that. Try a different mouse. Yours might be going bad.

Wild guess here, but I think your clicks while holding CTRL are close enough together that they are interpreted as double clicks. Hence sometimes you have no issues. Thunderbird does not have any control of the speed of double clicks, but windows does.

In control panel under mouse the buttons tab allows you to modify the interval that makes up a double click. A very small change will probably see your issue go away.

Thanks both for your help. Appears I have a faulty mouse. Using my son's for a day with no problem at all. Thanks again.