What is a ballpoint pen known as in British English?

I always called it a biro as a kid growing up in England

It was the name of the inventor http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa101697.htm

In my experience the terms Ball point pen and biro are both equally used to describe the item.

Biro http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa101697.htm

It's not often referred to as a biro now - that's rather old-fashioned. Since cheap pens under the Biro brand went - replaced by the same company's Bic brand - the term ballpoint (no pen on the end) is more commonly used, except when it's just a pen. Pen is the commonest usage. Pens using lever action or cartridges are fountain pens regardless of the fact that cartridge pens don't have a fountain action. My source for this is having worked in an educational environment, currently requiring pens with me at all times, and two packs of new pens both labelled ballpoint. I know Biro invented it, but we don't use his name regularly for it any more.

PS: I grew up in the UK and still live there. I am one of those rare people that can finish all the ink in a pen before losing it to somebody else. I'm giving the current UK-based info. Say biro and you'll be mostly understood. Say ballpoint and even the kids will understand.