headset bolt
 

having read that a small amount of play in the front fork is not good, and that the appropriate action was to check and tighten the headset bolt, i grabbed m'allens and gave it a slow turn and it sheered clean off in my hand! its a decent, 05 hope headset and im only a little chap so could it be and flaw in the bolt or am i a heavy handed fool?!? and how do i get the sheered off end out the fork?

You need to loosen the stem first.
Remove the cap and get it out with a pair of needlenose pliers if you are lucky or drive out the starnut and replace it with a new one if the bolt was sheared off flush.

nice one mate, beginning to think i was on my own there! much fanks from a enthusiastic amateur!