Fixed my own problem, but why can't I delete this first post and hence the thread? are the permissions different by forum?

 

First posts can't be deleted, Rob - its for the reason that if the thread is of use, someone could delete the whole thread by deleting their first post.

It can, however be edited

 

Oh, I thought that if there were no other replies, one could delete one's own thread..

but this isn't of any use is it

 

Unfortunately the software doesn't have that option (delete posts and delete a topic if there are no replies). The forum moderator or CO should have no problem deleting the topic for you. Just click the Report button and let them knoe that's what you want. Until then just edit the topic, checnge the title to DELETE ME, remove the post content and then when you're done close the topic (or just close the topic and report it for removal).