evolution - removal of deleted items

[norman]

> > I was unable to empty the Deleted items file using Ubuntu 8.10 so I have
> > just upgraded to 9.04 and the problem is still there. I have just
> > checked and, to my horror, there are over 17.000 items there. Please
> > advise me on how to rectify this problem.
> > 
> 
> We'd probably need to know more information.
> Are you using POP or IMAP? Which provider?
> stuff like that...
> For instance, deleting stuff with POP from your ISP can be different 
> from deleting stuff with gmail and IMAP.

Perhaps I did not explain my problem very well. In Evolution, select
File -> Empty Wastebasket -> Enter. At the bottom, left hand side there
is an error message as follows:- a yellow triangle with '!' in it and
'Error while Expunging folder'. 

Norman