Display top level categories only

Hi,

Trying to display a list of top level categories only in a block on a custom home page.

I can achieve this easily using the Home Page design tab in the DirectoryPress backend but due to other software running on the site, I need to have a different page for the home page.

Using the shortcode, I can get the category list/block to display (with the listing count) but I don’t want the sub categories to display. I read in another forum post from a few months ago that there isn’t a shortcode for this and you need to use normal WP shortcode functionality, but if the display I want can be easily achieved on the standard home page, then surely the shortcode has been built in now?

I’ve spent hours looking into the different shortcodes & still haven’t had any luck, so any suggestions would be great!

Thanks

Rachel